30+ drugs may see supply disruptions due to North Carolina tornado, Pfizer says

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Drug supply disruptions overview: 

• Who: Pfizer has announced more than 30 of its drugs may experience supply disruption following a tornado that destroyed its factory in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. 
• Why: The drugmaker has determined around 64 different formulations or dosages of the more-than 30 drugs produced at the destroyed warehouse may now experience a supply disruption. 
• Where: Nationwide. 

Pfizer has warned there may be a supply disruption for more than 30 drugs in the aftermath of a tornado that destroyed its manufacturing warehouse in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, last week. 

Drugs that were affected by the tornado include injections of painkiller fentanyl and anesthetic lidocaine, among other things, according to Reuters. 

In total, Pfizer said it determined around 64 different formulations or dosages of the more than 30 drugs produced at the destroyed warehouse may now experience either a continued or new disruption in their supply. 

Pfizer sent a letter to its hospital customers late last week detailing the incident and explaining it would be placing limits on the amount of the affected drugs they would be able to sell them, Reuters reports. 

While the tornado completely destroyed Pfizer’s warehouse, the drugmaker’s CEO Albert Bourla reportedly said last week the weather disaster seemed to spare its production facilities from suffering major damage.

“We are moving full speed to bring this manufacturing plant into action again,” Bourla said at a news conference in Rocky Mount on Friday, according to Reuters. 

Destroyed Pfizer plant in Rocky Mount one of world’s largest for sterile injectable medicine production

Pfizer’s factory in Rocky Mount is reportedly one of the largest in the world for sterile injectable medicine production, with almost 25% of ones the company sells to U.S. hospitals made in the North Carolina location. 

Drug products produced at the Rocky Mount plant include painkillers, anti-infective medicines, and anesthesia, Reuters reports. 

Worries about a medication shortage was also part of the public discourse last December, with consumers reporting shortages of drugs like Tylenol, Motrin and Advil, among others, during the respiratory virus season. 

The medication shortage, which was nationwide, was attributed to a higher number of people becoming ill with maladies such as the flu, RSV and COVID-19 earlier in the respirator virus season than was anticipated or normal. 

Tylenol addressed the shortage by reassuring consumers that, while its medicine may be harder to find, the company was not experiencing a widespread shortage of the children’s version of its drug. 

“We recognize this may be challenging for parents and caregivers and are doing everything we can to make sure people have access to the products they need,” Tylenol said. 

Are you concerned about potential Pfizer drug supply disruptions? Let us know in the comments! 

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