The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) flagged a shortage of albuterol, a medication used to treat some breathing conditions, including asthma, after its manufacturer stopped producing it.
The FDA flagged the aerosolized form of albuterol that is used in hospitals and nursing homes across the United States. According to the regulator, the shortage only impacts a particular dosage of the medication generally used in hospitals and does not impact albuterol inhalers for personal use.
The agency added that it is working closely with manufacturers in the supply chain to “understand, mitigate and prevent or reduce any related impacts” due to the medication shortage.
According to an online letter, Akorn filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and suspended its U.S. operations about two weeks ago.n A plant in Decatur, Illinois, closed down and laid off about 400 workers, the letter said, reported FiercePharma.
Akorn CEO Douglas Boothe, in the letter, wrote that all Akorn locations would shut down and all employees would be laid off. “I truly regret that these actions have become necessary,” Booth stated. “This is a shock. It will take some time to absorb the news and what it means to you and your colleagues.”
“We recognize the potential impact that intermittent availability of certain drug products can have on providers & patients. To help meet demand, FDA has reiterated that outsourcing facilities may compound the specific product that’s in shortage to help increase supply,” the health regulator said, in part on Wednesday. “The FDA continues to explore all available regulatory levers to help assure supply—including exercising discretion for potential temporary importation by foreign suppliers.”
Some local pharmacies have struggled to stock the drug over the past several months and are worried that Akorn’s closure would exacerbate the problem.
However, some doctors have stressed that the shortage mainly impacts hospitals and medical facilities.
The American Lung Association spokesperson, Dr. Juanita Mora, told the broadcaster that people are advised not to hoard the medication, if possible.
“We are urging the FDA to get ahead of this problem before it becomes disastrous,” Mora stated.