Pfizer has issued a warning stating that the supply of Bicillin L-A, an antibiotic used to treat syphilis and other bacterial infections in children, may be depleted by the end of June. The surge in
infections has intensified the strain on an already limited supply of the antibiotic.
In a letter addressed to the U.S. health regulator on Monday, Pfizer disclosed that the stock of Bicillin L-A is anticipated to be exhausted by the close of this quarter. The company's penicillin products have been facing shortages since April.
Additionally, another similar penicillin product, Bicillin C-R, which is employed in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections, is projected to experience supply depletion in the third quarter, according to Pfizer.
This warning from Pfizer comes in the midst of a shortage of the widely used antibiotic amoxicillin since October.
Recent government data indicates a significant increase in cases of congenital syphilis, where the infection is transmitted to babies during pregnancy. The reported cases in 2021 surpassed 2,000, marking a threefold rise in recent years.
To address the growing demand, Pfizer has prioritized the manufacturing capacity for Bicillin L-A. Photo by Coolcaesar, Wikimedia commons.