Back in the early days of penicillin, the antibiotic was in such short supply that scientists resorted to recycling it from patients’ urine. While the current situation is not as dire, Pfizer is currently facing a shortage and expects that some of its inventory won’t recover until the middle of next year, according to NPR. In a letter to the FDA and other customers, Pfizer explained that the shortage is due to a “complex combination of factors including significant increases in demand, due to an increase in syphilis infection rates as well as competitive shortages.”
Specifically, Pfizer anticipates running out of the pediatric version of Bicillin L-A by the end of June. This product is used to treat syphilis and other infections in children, and while it is not widely used, cases of the infection being transmitted to babies during pregnancy have spiked in recent years, reports Reuters. Pfizer’s low supply of this product is a result of their focus on meeting demand for the adult version. Additionally, there is also a shortage of Bicillin C-R, which is used to treat infections including strep and scarlet fever.
The FDA reassures that they are working closely with Pfizer to offer any necessary assistance to address the supply issue. Pfizer is prioritizing the manufacturing of Bicillin L-A, and additional releases of the adult formulation are expected this month. Interestingly, in the military, Bicillin shots are commonly referred to as the “peanut butter shot” due to their color, as reported by The Hill. (Read more antibiotics stories.)
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