Recipharm increases API and raw material stocks to ensure supply amid higher antibiotics demand

CDMO says it has made "notable changes" to its supply chain processes to ensure continuing supply of medicines during COVID-19 pandemic

Antibiotics demand has risen as secondary bacterial infections are common in severely ill patients with COVID-19.

“We are increasing the safety stock of both APIs and raw material and are looking at different shift patterns for the existing team, as well as recruiting more personnel where required,” said Erik Haeffler, Vice President, Manufacturing Services & Head of Sustainability, at Recipharm.

The company has also seen generally higher demand for goods and services to support the fight against COVID-19.

“Naturally, this has put a strain on our supply chain and has affected it in various, but manageable, ways,” he said, adding that the company had made "notable changes" to its supply chain processes to maintain the supply of critical medicines.

Recipharm manufactures antibiotics – which can only be manufactured in dedicated plants with the correct technology and capabilities -- at four of its facilities.

“We are following the government guidelines and implementing the appropriate safety measures to ensure we continue to work efficiently,” Haeffler said.

Delays in both incoming materials and the shipment of its goods have been recent challenges for the company, with suppliers at reduced capacity, and tighter border control restrictions slowing down the transportation of goods.

Despite these issues, Recipharm said it had adjusted well to this “difficult and testing situation” to minimize the impact on the supply chain.

Recipharm added it may already have reached peak demand and predicted that volumes will return to ‘normal’ once the acute state of COVID-19 has passed.

Last week, Recipharm said it had secured supply of the API chloroquine phosphate for its drug Klorokinfosfat RPH Pharma and started manufacturing the product. While chloroquine products are not currently indicated for treatment or prevention of COVID-19, some clinical studies involving chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have recently been initiated.