| Cipro Not the Only Drug Available to Fight Anthrax -- 10/23/2001
 Cipro Not the Only Drug Available to Fight Anthrax
By John Rossomando
CNSNews.com Staff Writer
October 23, 2001
(CNSNews.com) - Previously obscure, the drug Cipro is quickly becoming a household word because of its ability to fight anthrax. The makers of the drug, Bayer Corporation, even took out a full-page ad in USA Today this week announcing a dramatic increase in the production of Cipro. As a result, many Americans may be left with the impression that Cipro is the only anti-Anthrax drug available.
But the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved doxycycline and penicillin to treat anthrax, according to FDA spokeswoman Susan Cruzan. "Both doxycycline and penicillin have had references to this (treating anthrax) in their labeling for many years," Cruzan said.
While the FDA has approved Cipro as an anthrax treatment, it has also issued warnings to both patients and physicians concerning its use.
"The safety and effectiveness of Cipro in individuals less than 18 years of age is not established, except for post-exposure in inhalational anthrax, the FDA said in a statement.
"Cipro has been shown to cause bone development problems in young animals," and the drug "can interact with other medicines including multivitamins," according to the statement.
The American Medical Association (AMA) also recognizes the value of antibiotics such as Cipro, doxycycline, and penicillin in the treatment of anthrax. The AMA does not recommend one antibiotic over another because it believes that each of these drugs can be used equally and effectively against anthrax, according to Dr. Timothy Flaherty, chairman of the AMA Board of Trustees.
Flaherty said the AMA does not disqualify Cipro as an effective treatment for inhalational anthrax, despite its side effects, because all antibiotics including doxycycline and penicillin have serious side effects attached to them.
"They all have different types of side effects," Flaherty said.
The AMA leaves it up to the attending physician to decide which anti-anthrax drug is appropriate for a particular patient.
"I think that [doctors] need to judge the risk-benefit situation with each one of those medications," he said. "I don't think that you can make a global statement about which one is safer."
In its USA Today advertisement, the Bayer Corporation told readers, "In response to the attacks on America and as part of the fight against bioterrorism, the people of Bayer are substantially increasing production of Cipro (ciproflaxicin).
"Our commitment to the American people is clear: We will meet this threat head on. Bayer is now working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assure that Americans are equipped to fight this threat," the ad stated. "In the last few weeks, we have shipped tens of millions of Cipro tablets, have tripled production and have committed to shipping 200 million tablets over the next three months."
Bayer's decision to step up Cipro production follows the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposal to increase funding for the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile.
"The proposal includes $643 million to expand the essential program that ensures speedy distribution of antibiotics and other supplies in the event of a major incident," HHS said in an October 17, 2001 press release. "It would ensure antibiotics are available to protect as many as 12 million people from potential anthrax exposure."
Steve Milloy, an associate fellow at the Cato Institute in Washington, considers Bayer's announcement that it will produce 200 million Cipro tablets over the next three months and the HHS proposal "overkill".
"I don't really see the justification for it yet," Milloy said. "I think that they are just spending tax dollars to give people a warm and cozy feeling, when it is just a waste."
Calls to Bayer seeking comment were not returned.
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