HQ Team
June 14, 2023: Pfizer Inc. announced a shortage of several doses of penicillin to treat strep throat and other infections in the US, as demand for the drug increased due to a rise in syphilis infection rates.
The interruption in supply was a result of “a complex combination of factors” including significant increases in demand, due to an increase in syphilis infection rates as well as competitive shortages.
In order to meet this increased demand, Pfizer has prioritized the manufacturing capacity of its drug bicillin L-A — penicillin G benzathine injectable suspension — to 1.2 million units/2 ml and 2.4 million units/4 ml prefilled syringes, according to a Pfizer statement.
The purpose of this letter is to make you aware of a “limited supply and the impending stock-out situation for select Bicillin,” according to the statement posted on USFDA’s website.
Depletion by June
“At this time all bicillin C-R are estimated to deplete in Q3 2023 and bicillin L-A pediatric prefilled syringes are estimated to be over by the end of Q2 2023.”
The L-A drug is for children and is suggested for pregnant people with syphilis. The C-R version is used to treat upper respiratory tract infections.
Pfizer stated that it was committed to providing timely supply information so that hospitals can plan for patient care.
Fetal death
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that can cause neurological, cardiovascular, and dermatological disorders in adults.
It can also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, and can cause miscarriage, fetal death, prematurity, or severe disabilities in newborns.
An estimated 4.6 million people have syphilis in the Americas region, according to the Epidemiological Review of Syphilis by the Pan American Health Organization.
In 2020, countries in the region reported 29,147 cases of congenital syphilis, and preliminary figures reported to PAHO for 2021 indicate more than 30,000 infections transmitted via mother-to-child.
Reported cases of syphilis have increased 74% since 2017, totaling more than 176,000 cases in 2021, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Congenital syphilis continues to surge, increasing 203% in the past five years. In 2021, 38 jurisdictions, including 37 states and the District of Columbia, reported an increase in congenital syphilis cases.
