Pfizer Sees Antibiotic Supply Running Out as Shortage Worsens

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Pfizer Inc. will run out of several doses of penicillin, which treats syphilis, strep throat, and other infections, later this year as shortages ripple across the US’s antibiotic supply.

The company anticipates running out of the children’s dose of the syphilis drug Bicillin L-A by the end of June, according to a Pfizer letter posted Tuesday on the Food and Drug Administration’s website. The company says it’s prioritizing production of larger doses of Bicillin L-A, which is recommended for pregnant people with syphilis because it is the only drug that can pass through the placenta and also treat the fetus.