January 1, Act of God? Tornado Strikes Pfizer Plant in North Carolina [Video]

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A large Pfizer facility in North Carolina has been severely damaged by a tornado.

However, according to a statement on Friday by the commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Dr. Robert Califf, there is no cause for immediate concern regarding potential disruptions in the supply of pharmaceuticals.

The commissioner assured that the impact on the supply chain would not be “immediately significant” due to the widespread distribution of Pfizer’s products in hospitals and the broader distribution system.

The FDA, in partnership with Pfizer, is now evaluating the extent of the damage inflicted on the Rocky Mount plant by the twister.

The ongoing review will assess the potential impact on various pharmaceutical products, their current availability, and the state of Pfizer’s inventory in other warehouses.

This assessment hinges on the willingness of wholesalers and distributors to disclose their inventory details to the FDA.

Califf stated, “We do not expect there to be any immediate significant impacts on supply given the products are currently at hospitals and in the distribution system.”

He added that the “FDA staff are in frequent communication with Pfizer and other manufacturers.”

Despite the Rocky Mount plant being the sole source for fewer than ten drugs in the U.S. market, the FDA believes there should be alternative formulations or adequate stocks available in other Pfizer warehouses.

The FDA has already initiated steps to mitigate any potential shortages.

These measures include identifying additional sources and requesting other manufacturers to ramp up production as needed.

In line with this, Pfizer has enforced strict allocation on many products to avoid hoarding and ensure equitable distribution.

Nevertheless, the FDA warned of potential localized supply disruptions due to these allocation measures, depending on existing supply contracts.

Highlighting the tornado incident, Dr. Califf underscored the necessity of a “robust, resilient and safe drug supply chain,” particularly in the face of unpredictable events such as natural disasters or geopolitical conflicts.

Despite Pfizer controlling a third of the total sterile injectable drug market for U.S. hospitals, and the damaged site supplying 8% of U.S. consumption, the FDA is confident about maintaining supply levels.

Pfizer confirmed that while their storage facilities were significantly damaged by the EF3 tornado, the medicine-production areas remained mostly intact.

The pharmaceutical giant is currently transferring products to alternative sites, sourcing replacement raw materials, and exploring other manufacturing locations across its U.S. network to bridge potential production gaps during the closure of the North Carolina facility.

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