The Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) is aware that there is a likelihood of a shortage of the injectable drug, iron dextran, for the prevention and treatment of iron deficiency in baby pigs. CVM considers iron dextran a medically necessary drug and recognizes that a shortage could result in undue animal suffering and disruption in the swine industry.
In order to address and alleviate the inadequate supply, CVM is not objecting to Bimeda Inc. of Lehigh, Iowa temporarily importing and distributing an injectable 200 mg/ml iron dextran product in the United States (U.S.) from Bimeda MTC Animal Health Inc. of Cambridge, Ontario, Canada through the end of February 2011 or until an adequate U.S. domestically manufactured supply is available.
CVM is committed to working with veterinarians to supply animal drugs for legitimate medical needs and will consider and evaluate other requests from other manufacturers of the injectable iron dextran product to ensure adequate supply in U.S. distribution, as needed.
Source: FDA, January 7, 2011