Media Statement on Nuclear Crisis in Japan: Fleming Pharmaceuticals Stepping Up Production of Nuclear Antidote

ST. LOUIS, March 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Fleming
Pharmaceuticals, maker of ThyroShield – one of two
FDA-approved potassium iodide medicines used in nuclear emergencies
to block the thyroid gland from absorbing radioactive iodine to
avoid thyroid cancer – is stepping up production of
ThyroShield to help provide domestic and global relief.  

ThyroShield is an iodide solution which, when taken orally,
saturates the thyroid gland so radioactive iodine cannot be
absorbed. The Fleming form of potassium iodide is especially
effective for babies and children, given the easy dosing liquid
formula.

“ThyroShield is not routinely stocked in large quantities but we
are putting a plan in place that expedites production and
delivery,” states Phill Dritsas, president of Fleming
Pharmaceuticals. “However, in the case of Japan, we simply don’t
have enough inventory to even begin to fill a need that great and
immediate.”

Under a 2002 federal law, states and local governments are
required to provide potassium iodide medicine for citizens living
within 20 miles of any of the 104 U.S. nuclear power plants. To
that end, the federal government has stockpiled millions of doses
of potassium iodide in liquid and pill form for states and local
governments to distribute.

“Some of the nation’s stockpile of ThyroShield has already
expired and the remaining inventory will expire over the next year
and a half. If federal officials were to decide to donate the
existing medicine, while it is still viable, for humanitarian
efforts in Japan, that could address the immediate need there AND
give us time to accelerate production here and work with the
federal government to replenish what was donated,” Dritsas says.
 

“The scope of the issue goes beyond Japan however,” Dritsas
explains. “Some Americans on the West Coast are fearful that the
radiation from Japan could drift to our shores, although that is
not a real threat according to aut

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