PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Jazz Pharmaceuticals announced today that it has provided the Ministry of Health in Panama with a supply of Antizol(R) (fomepizole) injection to assist in the treatment of patients suffering from poisonings in that country.
To date, 22 people in Panama have died from the poisonings, believed to be caused by the ingestion of contaminated cough and anti-allergy syrups. Hospital emergency departments have reported more than 40 additional people being diagnosed. Many of the victims suffered kidney failure, paralysis and other symptoms. The Panamanian government has ordered the syrup removed from store shelves and the government factory that manufactured it shut down.
Representatives from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Pan American Health Organization have assisted in the investigation.
In September, Jazz Pharmaceuticals rushed Antizol to Nicaragua’s Ministry of Health to assist in the treatment of methanol poisonings in that country.
Jean Luc Poncelet, M.D., area manager for Disaster Preparedness of PAHO/WHO (the Pan American Health Organization regional office of the World Health Organization), commented, “We greatly appreciate the assistance and generosity of Jazz Pharmaceuticals in helping the people of Panama cope with this crisis.”
Dr. Poncelet said PAHO/WHO has enlisted Javier Waksman, M.D., assistant clinical professor of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, to coordinate efforts to administer Antizol to newly diagnosed patients.
“We’re very happy to be able to make Antizol available to the people of Panama in this serious emergency,” said Alan Cohen, M.D., executive director of Global Medical Affairs of Jazz Pharmaceuticals.
About Antizol
Antizol works by blocking alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), the major enzyme responsible for the breakdown of methanol or ethylene glycol to toxic metabolites such as formaldehyde. Methanol poisonings most commonly occur in the U.S. through accidental ingestion of automobile windshield-washer fluid and other household or industrial products. Ethylene glycol poisonings most commonly occur through accidental ingestion of automotive antifreeze.
Antizol was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1997 for the treatment of ethylene glycol poisoning. In 2000, the FDA approved the use of Antizol for the treatment for methanol poisoning. Antizol is marketed in the United States by Jazz Pharmaceuticals and in more than 30 other countries by its licensees. The most frequent adverse events reported with Antizol use are headache, nausea, dizziness, increased drowsiness, and bad taste/metallic taste. Full prescribing information is available at http://www.antizol.com .
About Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Jazz Pharmaceuticals is focused on helping patients by meeting unmet medical needs in neurology and psychiatry with important and innovative therapeutic products. Jazz Pharmaceuticals is aggressively building its product portfolio through a combination of commercialization and development activities. Based in Palo Alto, California, the company is committed to working closely with patients, patient advocacy groups and healthcare professionals. For further information, visit http://www.JazzPharmaceuticals.com .
Contacts: Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Matthew Fust 650-496-3777 mediainfo@jazzpharma.com Mark Leonard Next Level Communications 847-267-9660 mark@reachthenextlevel.com
Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
CONTACT: Matthew Fust of Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc., +1-650-496-3777,mediainfo@jazzpharma.com , or Mark Leonard, Next Level Communications,+1-847-267-9660, mark@reachthenextlevel.com
