News: Ciprofloxacin production increased to cope with worldwide anthrax scares

The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7170 p537-541
20 October 2001

Ciprofloxacin production increased to cope with worldwide anthrax scares

Anthrax scares in the US and UK are driving up demand for specific antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin

Bayer is to increase production of ciprofloxacin (Ciproxin) to cope with demand worldwide for the product following scares about the use of anthrax as a biological weapon.

Although ciprofloxacin is not licensed in the United Kingdom for the treatment of adults or children exposed to aerolised Bacillus anthracis, it is licensed for this in the United States. Several incidents of anthrax powder being sent through the US mail have led to huge demand for the product, which is seen as the drug of choice in the US. Bayer is to reopen a facility for making the active ingredient on 1 November.

Sylvia Barber, professional relations manager, Bayer Plc, told The Journal that the company has seen an increased demand for Ciproxin in the UK but that it still had adequate stocks of the product. She said that this was mainly due to greater control over the product in the UK where it is only available on prescription.

The UK Public Health Laboratory Service has issued provisional guidance for action in the event of a deliberate release of anthrax (see Topics). The guidance is available from the PHLS website (www.phls.co.uk). There were 14 reported cases of anthrax in the UK between 1981 and 2000. The last reported deaths were in 1974.

Biological warfare Pharmacists could be included in contingency plans for dealing with terrorist attacks or other major disasters, following the incidents that took place in the US last month.

Those who would like to find out how pharmacists in the US approach dealing with terrorist attacks and warfare, might find the counterterrorism resource centre available on the American Society of Health System Pharmacists website interesting. The resource centre provides US pharmacists with guidance on preparing for emergencies and on distributing vaccines, antidotes, antimicrobials and other pharmaceutical products.