Fougera Announces Three Shipments of CroFab Antivenom In March; Hospitals and Poison Centers Encouraged to Stock in Advance for the 2003 Snakebite Season.Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 2, 2003 Fougera(R) announced today that the United States Food and Drug Administration United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), n.pr a unit of the Public Health Service created to protect the health of the nation against impure and unsafe foods, drugs, and cosmetics. authorized 9,712 vials (4,856 cartons) of Fougera's antivenom antivenom Antivenin Toxicology A vehicle that contains an antibody or other substance that binds specifically to a toxin, deactivating it CroFab(TM) (Crotalidae Polyvalent polyvalent /poly·va·lent/ (-va´lent) multivalent. pol·y·va·lent adj. 1. Acting against or interacting with more than one kind of antigen, antibody, toxin, or microorganism. 2. Immune Fab -- Ovine ovine pertaining to, characteristic of, or derived from sheep. ovine atopic dermatitis symmetrical erythema, alopecia, lichenification, excoriation on woolless areas; sporadic cases, recur each summer. ) for shipment in the month of March. The company is encouraging hospitals and poison centers that do not have antivenom on hand to order in advance of snakebite snakebite, wound inflicted by the teeth of a snake. The bite of a nonvenomous snake is rarely serious. Venomous snakes have fangs, hollow teeth through which poison is injected into a victim. season. Snakebite season varies geographically, but historically peaks between April and October. Cartons of CroFab purchased in 2003 can be safely stored and used through the summer of 2005. "Hospitals should take advantage of current availability to get ready for snakebite season," said Richard C. Dart, MD, PhD, Director, Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, Denver Health Authority and Professor of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (UCHSC) is part of the University of Colorado System. It has recently been merged with the University of Colorado at Denver (UCD) to form the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center. . "Any hospital that could potentially need to treat a snakebite victim should keep enough antivenom onsite to treat at least one patient at all times." CroFab(TM) is indicated for the management of patients with minimal or moderate North American crotalid envenomation envenomation /en·ven·om·a·tion/ (en-ven?o-ma´shun) poisoning by venom. en·ven·om·a·tion n. The injection of a poisonous material by sting, spine, bite, or other similar means. . The term crotalid is used to describe the Crotalidae family of venomous snakes that includes rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths/water moccasins. In October 2002 Fougera assumed responsibility for the distribution of CroFab(TM) from Savage Laboratories. Both companies are divisions of Altana Inc. CroFab(TM) was developed and is manufactured by Protherics PLC. The shelf life of CroFab is 30 months. The average wholesale price of CroFab(TM) is unchanged from January 2002. Complete prescribing information is available at www.fougera.com. About Fougera Fougera is a leading manufacturer and distributor of a wide range of multi-source topical and ophthalmic pharmaceuticals in prescription and over-the-counter dosage forms, as well as treatments for emergency/critical care. |
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