Juno Pharmaceuticals receives approval from Health Canada to import Amoxicillin amidst nationwide shortage

TORONTO, ON January 4, 2023 – Juno Pharmaceuticals Canada (“Juno”), a Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that it has received approval from Health Canada to import Amoxicillin powder for oral suspension (“Amoxicillin”) pursuant to Health Canada’s exceptional importation and sale guidelines. This approval will help relieve the current nationwide shortage of a critical antibiotic product and most importantly, allow it to reach pediatric and geriatric patients alike. Through this initiative with both its vendor partners and importation approval from Health Canada, Juno has procured close to 100,000 bottles. Delivery of the first order is underway with the remaining orders expected throughout January. The product will be distributed to hospitals, pharmacies and retail wholesalers in every province and territory.

Canada is experiencing a nationwide shortage of antibiotics while respiratory illnesses and infections surge. Amoxicillin oral suspension is one of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics for children for the treatment of particular bacterial infections. It has been widely reported that Amoxicillin has been in critically short supply – and in some cases, on backorder – since October 2022. Dwindling supplies of Amoxicillin have had to be rationed across Canada and have forced some pharmacies to dispense alternative formulations.

“The imported products from Juno have undergone careful review to ensure that they meet Canadian standards for safety and efficacy, and this brings us closer to ending the current shortage in the Canadian market.” says Paul Varady, VP of Quality and Regulatory Affairs at Juno.

In response to the increasing drug shortages being experienced across Canada, Juno recently launched an internal drug shortage division focused on sourcing, registering and importing out-of-country medications through its trusted global partner network. Amoxicillin represents the first product that Juno will successfully import to address drug shortages through this division. An additional eight products experiencing critical shortages in Canada are currently being sourced and are under review for possible submission to Health Canada.

“The ongoing shortage of antibiotics has put additional pressure on our already over-burdened healthcare system,” says Mark Mantel, President & CEO of Juno. “The addition of our drug shortage division is critical to helping alleviate significant strain on the Canadian healthcare system by combatting the depletion of multiple antibiotic medicines. Canadians will soon be able to access some of the antibiotics that they desperately need.”

About Juno Pharmaceuticals Canada

Juno Pharmaceuticals Canada specializes in bringing complex and high value generic and biosimilar products to the Canadian market. The Juno management team possess decades of pharmaceutical industry experience along with an extensive track record of driving strategic growth through the identification of niche products and disciplined construction of robust product pipelines. An early member of the global Juno Pharmaceuticals group, Juno’s global operations span four continents and consist of over 14 diverse pharmaceutical and medical device businesses spread across Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia and South Africa.

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