(Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday extended the expiration date of specific lots of Mylan (NASDAQ:MYL) NV's EpiPen allergy injectors by four months to mitigate the shortage of the life-saving treatment.
The decision https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/FDAInBrief/ucm617724.htm?utm_campaign=08212018_FiB_FDA%20extends%20expiry%20date%20for%20specific%20EpiPen%20lots%20to%20mitigate%20shortages&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua comes at a time when the shortage has come under focus at the start of back-to-school season, and applies to specific lots of 0.3 milligram EpiPen products, after the regulator reviewed data provided by Mylan.
Earlier this month, Mylan issued a warning that the devices may not always be available. The shortage has largely been due to ongoing manufacturing issues at a Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) plant which supplies EpiPens.
EpiPen autoinjectors allow the patient or a caretaker to administer a dose of epinephrine in case of a severe allergic reaction, such as to bee stings or exposure to peanuts.
Last week, the FDA approved Teva Pharmaceuticals' generic version of Mylan's drug.