STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about FDA’s syphillis-drug plan, India’s manufacturer-inspection demands, and more

Rise and shine, another busy day is on the way. However, this is also shaping up as a beautiful day as well, given the clear and sunny skies — and unusually mild breezes — enveloping the Pharmalot campus this morning. This calls for celebration with a cup of stimulation, and we are opening a new package of salted caramel mocha for the occasion. We can practically taste the Jersey shore. Meanwhile, our ever-growing to-do list requires attention. Sound familiar? So, here are some items of interest. Have a great day, and hope you conquer the world, everyone. …

Canadian Health Minister Mark Holland says Florida’s plan to import cheaper Canadian pharmaceuticals is a non-starter and the federal government will use its regulatory power to ensure the national drug supply does not face any shortages due to actions by a foreign state, the CBC says. “There is no way we will allow any jurisdiction, be it a state or another foreign jurisdiction, to endanger the Canadian drug supply. That is not an appropriate solution to whatever challenges they may be facing,” Holland said. “We’re going to do everything in our power to make sure that another country cannot be given the ability to pillage our health system for its own benefit.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will temporarily allow the import of a syphilis drug made by France’s Laboratoires Delbert, Reuters notes. Laboratoires Delbert said it was coordinating with the regulator to bring extencilline into the U.S. to address syphilis drug shortages, according to a letter on the FDA web site. In June, Pfizer had warned that it would soon run out of supply of its drug, Bicillin L-A, used to treat syphilis and other bacterial infections in children because it has had to prioritize versions made for adults due to a spike in syphilis infections in that population.

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