BIOTERRORISM FEARS RISE ONLINE ORDERS FOR ANTIBIOTIC CIPRO DELUGE INTERNET FIRM IN NORTH HILLS.

Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Staff Writer

NORTH HILLS - Sales of the anthrax drug Cipro have skyrocketed more than 4,000 percent at a North Hills Internet company as fears over biological terrorism intensifies.

Prior to the anthrax outbreak, which first surfaced in Florida, the North Hills-based company Rxranch.com typically processed 40 orders a week for Cipro, which is also used to treat respiratory and urinary tract infections.

After a Florida man died from the disease on Oct. 5 and it turned up at NBC News in New York last week, Rxranch logged more than 1,900 orders, company founder Richard Favara said Monday.

Orders have moderated somewhat but are still running about 2,000 percent above normal, he said.

``It's pretty solid and pretty constant every day. I'm sure it's going to last for a little while longer,'' he said of consumer demand for the drug. Favara expects about 1,000 orders this week.

``Everybody is back-ordered. It's hard to get.''

It's not surprising, since the number of cases seems to rise each day.

In the past two weeks Anthrax has been discovered in three states and the District of Columbia, and tests indicate at least 12 people have the disease or were exposed to it.

Rxranch sells Cipro, which is manufactured by Bayer AG, in 100-pill bottles for $449.

That's because Favara was able to lock up a supply in that type of packaging from several wholesale pharmacy companies.

People requesting the drug must fill out a medical form online, which is reviewed by doctors who work for the pharmacies. They reject about 25 percent of all the prescription requests submitted to the Web site , he said.

Cipro is offered for sale at a variety of Internet sites in varying quantities and price points.

And business is brisk elsewhere.

Bellevue, Wash.-based Drugstore.com said orders for the anthrax treatment medication soared 600 percent last week.

``The drugstore.com pharmacists would like to remind the public that this drug is not to be used unless your physician has prescribed it, and that it is unnecessary to demand a prescription for the drug, unless infected or exposed,'' the company said in a statement.

The company sells 60 tablets for $259.28.

Holly Vance, the company's clinical pharmacist, notes that the treatment for anthrax may vary.

In 1999 the American Medical Association recommended two doses of Cipro a day for 60 days.

A Web site recommended by Bayer - Ciprousa.com - recommends a 500 milligram dose for 60 days.

``There are some people who are just taking it regardless of whether it's needed,'' Vance said. ``I think what's going on is a lot of people are real scared and a lot of people are getting it from their doctor because they want to take it on a preventive basis.''

This is not recommended by either the company's pharmacists or the Center for Disease Control.

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(color) Cipro is the antibiotic given to American Media workers after anthrax bacteria was found in their building.