No shortage of kids’ medicines seen: FDA

U.S. health regulators said on Friday they do not expect any shortage of children’s pain and allergy medications despite Johnson & Johnson’s inability to resume production until at least next year.

J&J, which has recalled more than 40 products including Tylenol, makes an estimated 70 percent of liquid, over-the-counter medications for children. But the Food and Drug Administration said that it is monitoring the situation and does not foresee a shortage.

“There are many alternative products available - including generics - and we do not anticipate a shortage in supply,” FDA spokeswoman Elaine Bobo told Reuters.

On Thursday, J&J said it did not expect to restart production of most consumer medicines made at its Fort Washington, Pennsylvania plant before the end of the year.

The plant shut down in late April when the diversified healthcare company announced a widespread recall of infants’ and children’s liquid over-the-counter products made there.

U.S. inspectors found filthy equipment and contaminated ingredients at the factory, which also made the pain medicine Motrin and allergy drugs Benadryl and Zyrtec.

“FDA continues to monitor the situation, and we are in continuous communication with McNeil Consumer Healthcare regarding start-up of production at the Fort Washington plant,” FDA’s Bobo said.

The suspension also affected adult nonprescription medications made at the facility, McNeil Consumer Healthcare said. All told, average annual sales of the products made at the plant over the last three years were about $650 million.

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By Susan Heavey

WASHINGTON (Reuters)