WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., Dec. 12 (UPI) -- A Purdue University affiliated facility has become the sole North American producer of a new antibiotic developed by Eli Lilly and Co.
Lilly gave Purdue's Chao Center for Industrial Pharmacy & Contract Manufacturing the exclusive rights to manufacture, distribute and sell the new drug, called Seromycin, which is designed to combat tuberculosis and multidrug-resistant TB.
In the United States there are approximately 9,000 diagnosed cases of tuberculosis and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, scientists said, with most cases occurring in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Texas.
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is highly contagious, striking about 450,000 people each year, with the highest rates of prevalence in China, India, South Africa and the countries of the former Soviet Union. The World Health Organization said the average multidrug-resistant TB patient infects as many as 20 other people in his or her lifetime.
Under the agreement, the Purdue Research Foundation -- the Chao Center's parent organization -- will support the Seromycin manufacturing process. In turn, the center will make the prescription drug available to pharmaceutical wholesalers in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands for distribution to pharmacies.
