EpiPen shortage in Canada to last until March

Pfizer Canada (NYSE:PFE) has warned Health Canada that there is a shortage of 0.3 mg EpiPen auto-injectors due to a manufacturing disruption.

The company, which licenses the emergency allergy treatment from Mylan (NSDQ:MYL), reported that the problem should be resolved by March 2.

There are no alternative auto-injectors available on the market in Canada for patients at risk of having an allergic reaction. Pfizer Canada said it is “working closely with its distributors to resolve the shortages as soon as possible,” but that “it expects a period of between two and four weeks of no inventory for the 0.3 mg format.”

The company added that usually people should avoid using expired EpiPens but given the circumstances, if someone is experiencing anaphylactic shock, caretakers should use the expired product and immediately call 911.

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