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Volume 3 Issue 198 Published - 14:00 UTC 08:00 EST 21-Oct-2001 Next Update - 14:00 UTC 08:00 EST 22-Oct-2001
| Editor: Susan K. Boyer, RN © RAmEx Ars Medica, Inc. All rights reserved. |
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 Bayer Confirms Cipro Talks With HHS And Reaffirms Offer Of Donation Of 2 MM Cipro Tablets For Emergency Responders
Bayer Corporation yesterday confirmed it is in discussions with the Department of Health and Human Services to determine the delivery schedule and size of the federal purchase for additional amounts of Bayer's antiobiotic, Cipro. Cipro is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of the inhaled form of anthrax. In alignment with statements made yesterday by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Bayer stands ready to fulfill the supply requirements of the federal government. Bayer Corporation also reaffirmed a standing offer to donate two million Cipo tablets for federal and civic authorities, dedicated to emergency personnel who respond to calls of potential anthrax exposures. On Thursday, 18 October 2001, an offer to donate two million Cipro tablets was by Bayer Corporation's President and CEO Helge H. Wehmeier to HHS. "On behalf of the 24,000 US employees of Bayer, I can assure you that we feel a special sense of responsibility to those who personally respond to anthrax emergencies," Wehmeier wrote in his letter last week. "We are prepared to make a donation of two million tablets of Cipro to be made available for these new heroes who daily wage the war against anthrax." The company would also like to reassure the public that a large supply of Cipro continues to be available to the nation's lead emergency response agency, namely the Centers for Disease Control, to respond to potential public emergencies involving anthrax. In addition, Bayer joins federal health officials to raise awareness of Americans that there is more than one treatment for anthrax exposure, such as doxycycline and penicillin. To further raise awareness of Bayer's ability to supply Cipro and to emphatically reinforce its support of efforts by the federal government, the company is running full-page advertisements in national newspapers, entitled "A Message from Bayer Corporation to the American People: Our Commitment to You." The text of the advertisement follows. "In response to the attacks on America and as part of the fight against bioterrirism, the people of Bayer are substantially increasing production of Cipro(ciprofloxacin). "Our commitment to the American public is clear: We will meet this threat head on. Bayer is now working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assure that Americans are equipped to fight this threat. "In the last few weeks, we have shipped tens of millions of Cipro tablets, have tripled production and have committed to shipping 200 million tablets over the next three months. "We will continue to work with the nation's healthcare professionals to ensure appropriate use of our antibiotics. We stand ready to support the United States government providing Cipro to meet emergency needs. |
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