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Nephron Stepping Up as Asthma medication shortage continues

Nephron

Thanks to the winter rains followed by wildflower super blooms, some Arizonans and others across the country are experiencing an extra intense allergy season.  

Albuterol is commonly used to treat asthma, which allergies can make worse. But the FDA has listed it as being in short supply since October 2022. Now, that shortage could pose extra hurdles for allergy sufferers.

Hitendra Chaturvedi is an ASU economics professor. He said with albuterol still in short supply, this allergy season creates “a perfect storm of sorts.”

Chaturvedi said without a lot of inventory stored up, if anything goes wrong in producing or delivering a product it has a kind of “domino effect” on the entire supply chain.

“You have a supply chain that does not have anywhere to turn because there is no inventory of stock,” Chaturvedi said.

One major manufacturer of albuterol shut down in February, leaving Nephron Pharmaceuticals of South Carolina to pick up the demand. Chaturvedi also warned consumers not to hoard.

“The moment people start to do that, it has got a very, very strong domino effect on the supply chains,” he said.

Economists have given this advice since the early pandemic — and now, so are doctors.

“They’re saying that there are alternatives, don’t worry about it,” Chaturvedi said.

Chaturvedi recommended turning to your doctor for alternatives. In the future, he said he hopes to see more risk mitigation involved with supplies of potentially life-saving drugs like albuterol.

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Tamia Sumpter

Tamia is a driven senior undergraduate Bioengineering student currently enrolled at Clemson University. With a strong foundation in her field, she has honed her skills through hands-on experience in research and development at Eli Lilly & Company. During her time in the ADME department, Tamia contributed significantly by working on siRNAs and their applications in finding In Vitro-In Vivo Correlation (IVIVC). Looking ahead, Tamia has set her sights on a promising career in law. She aspires to specialize in Intellectual Property Law, with a particular focus on serving as in-house counsel for leading medical device or pharmaceutical companies. Her enthusiasm for this role is palpable as she prepares to embark on her legal journey! She is also a proud member of the Omicron Phi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., PEER Mentor for Clemson PEER/WiSE, and currently serves as the President of Clemson Bioengineering Organization (CBO). With her unique blend of scientific knowledge and legal interests, Tamia is poised to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare and life sciences industries.