New Incentives to Help Combat Antimicrobial Resistance, but Overuse of Strong Antibiotics Still Needs to Be Curbed

ROUND ROCK, Texas, July 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The FDA Safety Innovation Act (FDASIA), signed yesterday, provides pharmaceutical manufacturers with an extended window of antibiotic formulary exclusivity. This incentive should increase drug innovation, but it doesn't address increasing antimicrobial drug resistance, according to noted expert, Dr. David Khan of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

"Too often, a patient's self-reported penicillin allergy causes broad antibiotics to be prescribed even though penicillin was the most appropriate treatment. However, studies show in nine out of ten cases, patients reporting a penicillin allergy are non-allergic," said Dr. Khan.

"Test before treating with non-penicillin antibiotics. With a simple, quick allergy skin test, doctors can easily and inexpensively determine if penicillin is an option," said Dr. Roland Solensky of the Corvallis Clinic.

"Overuse of broad spectrum antibiotic leads to antimicrobial resistance and the need for more powerful antibiotics, which have more toxic side effects," said Dr. Solensky, who wrote the drug allergy practice guidelines.

"By denying a potentially effective treatment, these patients are susceptible to the overuse of broad spectrum antibiotics, leading to increased drug-resistant bacteria," said Jose A. Moreno Toscano, President of ALK-Abello, Inc.

PRE-PEN^® (benzylpenicilloyl polylysine injection USP), a skin test product widely used for more than 30 years, can help medical staff quickly identify patients who can safely receive penicillin, opening up a wider range of options and saving lives in the process.

About ALK
ALK holds worldwide rights to market and distribute PRE-PEN^® (benzylpenicilloyl polylysine injection USP) penicillin skin testing product. PRE-PEN^® (benzylpenicilloyl polylysine injection USP) is currently approved and sold in the USA and Canada.

ALK is a research-driven global pharmaceutical company focusing on allergy treatment, prevention and diagnosis. ALK is the world leader in allergy vaccination (immunotherapy), a treatment that induces a protective immune response which reduces and potentially halts the allergic reaction. The company has approximately 1,400 employees with subsidiaries, production facilities and distributors worldwide. ALK was named one of the Best Companies to Work for in Texas in 2012 by www.BestCompaniesTX.com. Further information is available at www.alk-abello.us.

Contact Information:
Lisa Lawrence
For ALK
512-426-4904
[email protected]

SOURCE ALK