GOOD NEWS FOR CORTEF AND SOLU-CORTEF USERS:
Manufacturing Shortage Ended; Drug Added to Patient Assistance Programs
Cortef is now both more available and more affordable, due to the advocacy efforts of CARES Foundation and the support of Michael P. Wajnrajch, M.D., Pfizer’s U.S. Medical Director, Pediatric Endocrinology Division.
Pfizer, the maker of Cortef® has announced an end to the shortage of this drug.
“Thanks to improved efficiencies and increased production, both Solu-Cortef
and Solu-Medrol are off allocation, meaning that both are freely available,” says Dr. Wajnrajch. “Additionally, following approval by the FDA, we will be increasing production further, so we do not anticipate any shortages in the future either. There are no shortages of our other corticosteroids."
In addition, CARES was able to persuade Pfizer to add Cortef to its patient assistance program (PAP). Now, those who cannot afford to pay for Cortef can apply for assistance through Pfizer.
For more information on obtaining Cortef through this PAP, call Pfizer Prescription Medicine at (800) 879-3477, or go to its website (www.pfizer.com).
Thank you, Dr. Wajnrajch, for spearheading the effort within Pfizer to eliminate the shortages of these essential medications, and having Cortef added to PAP lists. See www.pparx.org for details.
FLORINEF UPDATE
Florinef® (fludrocortisone acetate) tablets, distributed by Monarch Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a subsidiary of King Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) is not currently available under the company’s patient assistance program. But keep checking—thanks to CARES’ efforts, this status may change later this year.
To inquire about whether the company has begun to accept new applicants for this program, contact King Pharmaceuticals, Customer Service and Sales, at (888) 840-5370.
