DURHAM, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISPH) announced today that it has been communicating with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is increasing its production of AzaSite® (azithromycin ophthalmic solution) 1% in response to the manufacturing supply shortage of erythromycin ophthalmic ointment (0.5%). Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment is a macrolide antibiotic routinely used in neonates for prophylaxis of ophthalmia neonatorum, a form of bacterial conjunctivitis that may be contracted by newborns during delivery. If not treated, the infection can be serious and may lead to blindness. Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment was recently placed on the FDA Drug Shortages website list, which was developed to respond to drug shortages that may have a significant impact on public health1.
