Antivenin Shortage

“ST. DAVIDS, Pa., May 10, 2001 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, the pharmaceutical division of American Home Products Corporation (NYSE: AHP), is notifying healthcare providers and informing the public that there will be a market shortage of the company's Antivenin (Crotalide) Polyvalent (equine origin). It is expected that the company will be out of Antivenin stock for approximately two months, beginning in May 2001 and continuing through June 2001. This supply outage is the result of both an increase in demand and manufacturing limitations at the facility where Antivenin is produced.
"While there will be a temporary period when the Wyeth-Ayerst Antivenin is not available, there is another company producing a snake bite treatment," says Harold Marder, M.D., Senior Vice President and Medical Director for Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories. "Recently, the FDA approved a new rattlesnake antivenom, CroFab(TM), which is manufactured by Protherics PLC and distributed by Savage Laboratories."
People who are hiking, camping or engaging in activities that could put them at an increased risk of being bitten by a poisonous snake should take extra precautions during the months of May and June. Although there is an additional manufacturer producing antivenom, Wyeth-Ayerst cannot guarantee the availability of that other manufacturer's product. Consumers who have any questions or concerns should contact their local poison control center.”

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“Thanks for the warning. So far I didn't see a rattlesnake yet, but I know I will before fall comes.”