FENTON, Mo., April 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Fleming & Company, Pharmaceuticals is announcing that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has purchased an additional 3.1 million bottles of its THYROSHIELD(TM) Potassium Iodide Oral Solution. THYROSHIELD Potassium Iodide Oral Solution is a thyroid blocking medicine to be used in a radiation emergency only. The Federal Government purchased 1.7 million bottles last year and this new order represents a significant step forward in providing protection from potential terrorist attacks to those who live near nuclear power plants.
THYROSHIELD is being supplied to the 31 states with commercial nuclear power plants through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) Program to supply KI within the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ). HHS is moving forward to expand KI availability out to the 20 mile EPZ as mandated by the Bioterrorism Act of 2002.
THYROSHIELD is the only FDA approved liquid potassium iodide product indicated for thyroid protection in a radiation emergency. A liquid product is important for immediate dosing to infants and young children who are most at risk in the event of exposure to radioactive iodine.
In a December, 2004 letter to HHS, Paul Ladenson, MD, Director of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Johns Hopkins University and then president of the American Thyroid Association, wrote:
"Experience from the radioactive iodine exposure resulting from the Chernobyl accident demonstrates that thyroid cancer incidence rises substantially in unprotected populations, particularly children and young adults. Populations with an effective plan for KI stockpiling and expeditious distribution and use would have a very significantly lower risk of developing thyroid cancer secondary to radioactive iodine exposure."
"We hope no one will ever have to use this product," says Deborah Fleming Wurdack, Chief Administrative Officer at Fleming & Company, "but we are pleased to see the Federal Government responding to this important need, particularly in light of the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster." Readers can learn more about thyroid protection in radiation emergencies at nuclear power plant facilities on the Nuclear Regulatory Commissions website at http://www.nrc.gov . THYROSHIELD Potassium Iodide Oral Solution is available for purchase at http://www.nukepills.com , http://www.thyroshield.com , or by asking any pharmacist to order it.
Fleming & Company, Pharmaceuticals is headquartered in Fenton, St. Louis County, Missouri. Fleming & Company manufactures both over-the-counter and prescription products including OCEAN(R) Premium Saline Nasal Spray, NEPHROCAPS(R) Renal Vitamin, and MAGONATE(R) Liquid Magnesium.
Fleming & Company, PharmaceuticalsCONTACT: George Love, Director of Regulatory Affairs of Fleming & Company,Pharmaceuticals, +1-636-343-5306 ext. 260, gflove@flemingcompany.com
