FDA Allows Temporary Importation Of Syphilis Drug To Address Shortages

Reuters (1/10, Santhosh) reports the FDA “will temporarily allow the import of a syphilis drug made by France’s Laboratoires Delbert, the company said on Wednesday.” According to a letter on the FDA’s website, “Laboratoires Delbert said it was coordinating with the health regulator to bring extencilline into the United States to address syphilis drug shortages.” The Hill (1/10, Weixel) reports, “Benzathine penicillin G is the preferred treatment for syphilis, and the only recommended treatment for pregnant people and infants with possible syphilis,” although “it’s been in shortage since April.” Meanwhile, “Pfizer, which is the only company manufacturing the drug in the U.S., said it would take until at least the second quarter of 2024 to increase production enough to end the shortage.”