Bayer Boosts Production of Cipro

As hospitals and pharmacies struggled to keep up with rising demand for the antibiotic Cipro, the drug’s manufacturer promised Tuesday to keep its plants open 24 hours a day to boost supplies.

At least one influential legislator, however, urged the Food and Drug Administration to take further steps to broaden the supply. Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), whose constituents are extremely jittery because of two cases of anthrax at television networks based in New York City, said the FDA should allow makers of generic drugs to produce the potent antibiotic.

“Given that there is now only one manufacturer, there is real concern that we have enough Cipro on hand to deal with any potential future crisis,” Schumer said.

Several common antibiotics, including penicillin, are effective in fighting anthrax. But Cipro is the only one with formal FDA certification as an anti-anthrax drug. Despite admonitions by public health officials against hoarding, demand for the drug has skyrocketed in the last week.

As reports of anthrax exposures have spread, people have rushed to doctors demanding the drug to keep in the family medicine chest. Before the Sept. 11 attacks, Bayer Corp. was shipping 20 million tablets a month. Last month, the company sold 50 million of the 500-milligram tablets, and demand seems to be increasing.

“It’s really intense now, and it’s getting stronger every day,” said Menlo Park pharmacist Chet Yee. “People are panicking.”

Bayer officials said they plan to run their factories day and night, seven days a week in order to produce enough of the drug. They said they hope to make 200 million doses in the next three months.

The company also promised not to increase its wholesale price for the drug, which costs about $450 for a bottle of 100 tablets.

Schumer, however, noted that five drug makers have been granted preliminary permission to make ciprofloxacine, the generic version of Cipro.

“The U.S. could significantly increase its stockpile . . . by purchasing generic versions from manufacturers,” he said.

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Associated Press contributed to this report.