FDA reports shortage of injectable penicillin that's used to treat syphilis

The Food and Drug Administration reported earlier this week a shortage of an injectable type of penicillin that is commonly used to treat syphilis. 

According to the notice issued on April 26, the FDA stated that there are shortages of Pfizer’s Bicillin L-A, and the shortage may continue until the last quarter of the year. 

Bicillin L-A is Pfizer's brand name for penicillin G benzathine. It is administered by injection intramuscularly and is often used to treat syphilis and strep throat. 

Pfizer is the sole supplier of penicillin G benzathine in the United States.

According to the FDA, the demand for the drug has increased due to the increase in cases of strep throat and syphilis. 

"The FDA recognizes the potential impact that increased demand of certain products may have on health care providers and patients," the agency said in a statement to The Epoch Times.

"While the agency does not manufacturer drugs and cannot require a pharmaceutical company to make a drug, make more of a drug, or change the distribution of a drug, the public should rest assured the FDA is working closely with numerous manufacturers and others in the supply chain to understand, mitigate and prevent or reduce the impact of intermittent or increased demand of certain products," the statement continued.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Pfizer "anticipates the issue will be resolved in the next two months."