Effects of the Ongoing Pandemic on Bupivacaine HCI Supply

Whitepaper
Drug substance

In March of 2020, the World Health Organization designated the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes the COVID-19 infectious disease, to be a global pandemic (WHO, 2020). Symptoms of the virus vary to include fever, cough, sore throat, and severe respiratory alignments, while some who catch the virus remain asymptomatic. As individuals continued to get critically ill, waves of lockdowns across the globe hindered drug suppliers in multiple ways. Not only have certain requirement for drugs surpassed the supply capacity, but trade restrictions and logistical complications made access to certain critical ingredients and drug products limited or impossible.

Throughout the pandemic, painkiller and sedative demands spiked. Demand for Bupivacaine HCl, a powerful analgesic and anesthetic medicine, dramatically increased. As global authorities worked to fill gaps, drug manufacturers and contract manufacturing and developing organizations (CDMOs), such as Cambrex, became critical in the efforts to stabilize the supply of Bupivacaine HCl and other essential drugs.

To learn more about the challenges associated with the high demand and increased regulatory obstacles during the pandemic, read our full whitepaper.