Rx Response Raised To 'Alert Status' In Response To Growing Swine Flu Threat

Main Category: Swine Flu
Article Date: 30 Apr 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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Rx Response, an unprecedented partnership created to help ensure the continued flow of medicines to patients in a severe public health emergency, has been put on Alert Status as concerns grow over the health threat posed by outbreaks of swine flu in the United States.

"Americans need to know that the medicines they rely on will be available even in an emergency," said Billy Tauzin, president and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), a member of Rx Response. "Rx Response provides federal and state crisis managers with the critical information they need about the pharmaceutical supply chain to help communities affected by an emergency return to normal as quickly as possible."

Alert Status means that Rx Response members are now closely monitoring developing information regarding influenza cases detected in the United States and are working with local, state and federal health authorities to help ensure the continued efficient functioning of the nation's pharmaceutical supply chain.

Over the past 48 hours, Rx Response officials have been in contact with federal and state health officials to share information about the pharmaceutical supply system's pandemic response capabilities.

Rx Response was developed more than 2 years ago in response to Hurricane Katrina and the threat of pandemic influenza. Rx Response members include:

-- American Hospital Association (AHA)

-- American Red Cross

-- Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)

-- Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA)

-- Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA)

-- National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS)

-- National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA)

-- Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)

Rx Response is a single point of contact for the entire pharmaceutical supply system and relies on a robust network that allows federal and state emergency management officials to communicate with Rx Response regarding pharmaceutical needs and other issues which may impact the supply system. The communications are actively monitored by all segments of the pharmaceutical supply system to ensure the fastest possible resolution.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country's leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $50.3 billion in 2008 in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry-wide research and investment reached a record $65.2 billion in 2008.

Source: Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

Further information on Swine Flu

• See a Map Of H1N1 Outbreaks
• See our Mexico Swine Flu Blog

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