Quebec pharma company creates generic antibiotic to help combat shortages

Amid a nationwide children’s drug shortage, Quebec-based Mantra Pharma has created a generic drug filling over half the demand for a common antibiotic used for children. The pharmaceutical company made M-Amoxi Clav, a generic version of Clavulin. The new product is the only alternative to the reference drug, which is commonly prescribed for things such as bronchitis, pneumonia and ear infections. The company has been developing the drug, a composite product made from amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, for four years. Health Canada approved it in 2022, and Mantra Pharma began distributing it in November. Over just November and December, the company distributed more than 80,000 units of the drug. “In two months, we were able to supply half of the regular pan-Canadian demand,” Maxime Deslauriers, vice-president of scientific business development at Mantra Pharma, told CTV News. “By the end of February, we hope to have put on sale the equivalent of the entire market in the country, which is about 200,000 units annually.” Read: Health Canada says there's a shortage of some antibiotics used to treat children GSK, which produces Clavulin, is having ongoing supply problems, said Deslauriers. “It doesn't look like [those are] going to go away anytime soon. On the other hand, we're really in control of our supply chain, and we've been able to significantly increase the amount we can produce,” he said. Mantra Pharma was founded in 2006. It makes generic drugs, over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, and natural health products. It is working primarily within Quebec but wants to expand the availability of M-Amoxi Clav to other areas of Canada soon. Quebec’s Ministry of Health and Social Services has been working closely with the company since it contacted Mantra Pharma near the beginning of the shortage. It has now let them know how much of the drug they anticipate needing over the next few months. Mantra Pharma will also continue to expand the other number of other generic drugs it creates in the future. “If there are 15 companies working on the same molecules and we all have to sell them at the same price, it's hard to make a place for yourself,” said Deslauriers. “We want to focus our efforts on developing first generics, trying to find the small product that is perhaps looked down upon by some of the big companies.” Read: Strep A and scarlet fever infections surge in U.K., drive up antibiotic demand, prices

Quebec pharma company creates generic antibiotic to help combat shortages

Register for free access or login.

Related Topics