Products Distributed by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention*

*Distributed by Scientific Resources Program, NCID, CDC
**IND = Investigational New Drug (IND), Food and Drug Administration
***These products are not expected to be manufactured again by these producers.

FORMULARY

I. Immunobiologic Agents Used Therapeutically

Botulism Antitoxin Bivalent (Equine) Types A and B
Botulism Antitoxin bivalent (AB) is a refined and concentrated liquid preparation of horse (equine) globulins modified by enzymatic digestion (2). It is a licensed product supplied in single dose vials.

Each vial contains the following (3):

• Type A-7,500 International Units, equivalent to 2381 U.S. Units
• Type B-5,500 International Units, equivalent to 1839 U.S. Units

Botulism Antitoxin (Equine), Type E *
Botulism Antitoxin, type E is a refined and concentrated liquid preparation of horse (equine) globulins modified by enzymatic digestion (2). It is supplied under an IND protocol.

Each vial contains the following (4):

• Type E- 5,000 International Units

*The type E Botulism Antitoxin is administered consecutively with Botulism Antitoxin Bivalent, types A and B, only when type E botulism (usually associated with consumption of contaminated fish products) is suspected.

In the United States the antitoxin is available only from the CDC because of its limited use and its relatively short expiration date. The antitoxin is released only for suspected or actual cases of botulinum toxin poisoning. The antitoxin is stored at CDC quarantine stations located in major airports around the nation, ensuring delivery to any location in the United States within hours. All suspected cases of botulinum poisoning and the subsequent request for antitoxin must be initiated through state or local health departments. The decision to dispense the antitoxin is made by CDC medical epidemiology staff after discussion with the treating physician. This allows CDC and the state health departments to maintain effective botulism surveillance and to detect outbreaks as soon as possible. Physicians requesting botulinum antitoxin should contact the CDC at 770-488-7100.

Diphtheria Antitoxin (Equine)
Diphtheria antitoxin is a sterile, aqueous solution of the refined and concentrated proteins, chiefly globulins, containing antitoxic antibodies obtained from the blood serum of horses that have been immunized against diphtheria toxin (2). It is used to prevent or treat diphtheria by neutralizing the toxins produced by Corynebacterium diphtheriae (5). Diphtheria antitoxin is available under an IND protocol through the CDC and is released for actual or suspected cases of diphtheria. The antitoxin is stored at CDC quarantine stations located in major airports around the nation, ensuring delivery to any location in the United States within hours. All suspected cases of diphtheria and the subsequent request for antitoxin must be initiated through state or local health departments. The decision to dispense the antitoxin is made by CDC medical epidemiologists after discussion with the treating physician. This allows the CDC and the state health departments to maintain effective diphtheria surveillance and detect outbreaks as soon as possible. Clinicians requesting diphtheria antitoxin should contact the CDC diphtheria duty officer at 404-639-8257 during working hours (8:00am to 4:30pm) and the Director's Emergency Operations Center (DEOC) at 770-488-7100 at any other time (6).

Vaccinia Immune Globulin (VIG)
Vaccinia immune globulin is a sterile, non-pyrogenic solution of globulin derived from the plasma of adult human donors who have been vaccinated with vaccinia virus(smallpox vaccine)(2). Vaccinia immune globulin is released from the CDC, under an IND protocol, when indicated for the treatment of eczema vaccinatum, vaccinia necrosum, ocular vaccinia, or severe generalized vaccinia in persons who receive the smallpox vaccine. The CDC medical staff can assist physicians in the diagnosis and management of patients with suspected complications of vaccinia vaccination(7).

II. Immunobiologic Agents Used Prophylactically

Botulinum Toxoid
Pentavalent (ABCDE) botulinum toxoid is a combination of aluminum phosphate-adsorbed toxoid derived from formalin-inactivated type A,B,C,D and E botulinum toxins, with formaldehyde and thimerosal used as preservatives. Botulinum toxoid is not licensed; it is distributed by the CDC under an IND protocol. The toxoid is used to protect individuals from accidental exposure to botulinum toxins. It should be administered only to individuals working in high risk laboratories who are actively working or expect to be working with cultures of Clostridium botulinum or the toxins (8).

Vaccinia Vaccine
Vaccinia (smallpox) vaccine is a licensed preparation of infectious vaccinia virus. The vaccinia is grown in the skin of a vaccinated bovine calf (2). In 1982, the only active licensed producer of vaccinia vaccine in the United States, Wyeth Laboratories, discontinued production for general use, and, in 1983, distribution to the civilian population was discontinued. Smallpox vaccination has not been required for international travelers since January 1982, and International Certificates of Vaccination no longer include smallpox vaccination.

CDC provides vaccinia vaccine for laboratory workers directly involved with smallpox or closely related orthopox viruses (e.g., monkeypox and vaccinia). Due to clinical trials involving recombinant vaccinia virus vaccines, health-care workers (e.g., physicians and nurses) may now be exposed to vaccinia and recombinant vaccinia viruses and should be considered for vaccinia vaccination (7).

There is no evidence that smallpox vaccination has any therapeutic value in the treatment or prevention of recurrent herpes simplex infection, warts, oral thrush, or any other diseases (7). Requests for smallpox vaccine for these unapproved uses cannot be granted.

Anthrax Vaccine
Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed (AVA) is the only licensed human anthrax vaccine in the United States and is produced by Emergent Biosolutions in Lansing, Michigan. AVA is prepared from a cell-free filtrate of B. anthracis culture that contains no dead or live bacteria (9).

CDC provides anthrax vaccine for laboratory workers conducting research under federally funded projects who require routine vaccination based on their occupational risk.

Routine vaccination with AVA is indicated for persons engaged a) in work involving production quantities or concentrations of B. anthracis cultures and b) in activities with a high potential for aerosol production. Laboratorians using standard Biosafety Level 2 practices in the routine processing of clinical samples are not at increased risk for exposure to B. anthracis spores. The risk for persons who come in contact in the workplace with imported animal hides, furs, bone meal, wool, animal hair, or bristles has been reduced by changes in industry standards and import restrictions. Routine preexposure vaccination is recommended only for persons in this group for whom these standards and restrictions are insufficient to prevent exposure to anthrax spores. Routine vaccination of veterinarians in the United States is not recommended because of the low incidence of animal cases. However, vaccination might be indicated for veterinarians and other high-risk persons handling potentially infected animals in areas with a high incidence of anthrax cases (9).

III. Drug Products Used Therapeutically

Artesunate
Artesunate, an investigational drug, is in the class of medications known as artemesinins, which are derivatives from the “quinghaosu” or sweet wormwood plant (Artemisia annua). It is a sesquiterpene lactone with an internal peroxide linkage. Artesunate may be used to treat documented cases of malaria that require a parenteral medication (10).

Bithionol
Bithionol (Lorothidol, Bitin), an investigational drug, is a phenolic substance structurally related to hexachlorophene. Bithionol is an alternative to the drug praziquantel for treating human paragonimiasis (infection by Paragonimus species). It is also indicated for treatment of fascioliasis (infection by Fasciola hepatica). Its use is limited to treating either of these infections in patients who are unable to use praziquantel because of previous idiosyncratic or allergic reactions, or in whom a previous course of praziquantel failed to eradicate the infection (11).

Dehydroemetine
Dehydroemetine (Mebadin), an investigational drug, is a close structural analog of emetine and is indicated for the treatment of amebic dysentery and/or extraintestinal amebiasis that fails to respond to metronidazole. Since the early 1960s, dehydroemetine has been used in many areas of the world where amebiasis is endemic (12). With the development of metronidazole, the use of dehydroemetine for amebic dysentery and liver abscess has decreased notably.

Diethylcarbamazine (DEC)
Diethylcarbamazine citrate (Hetrazan), an investigational drug, is an anthelmintic agent that does not resemble other antiparasitic compounds. It is a synthetic organic compound which is highly specific for several parasites and does not contain any toxic metallic elements. DEC is indicated for treatment of individual patients with certain filarial diseases. These diseases include: lymphatic filariasis caused by infection with Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, or Brugia timori; tropical pulmonary eosinophilia; and loiasis. DEC continues to be the mainstay for treatment of patients with lymphatic filariasis and loiasis. (13, 14)

Melarsoprol
Melarsoprol (Mel B, Arsobal), an investigational drug, is an arsenical compound with trypanosomicidal effects. It is indicated for the treatment of African (Gambian and Rhodesian) sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis) with neurologic involvement and for the treatment of early African (Gambian and Rhodesian) sleeping sickness that is resistant to treatment with suramin or pentamidine. It has been used outside the United States since 1949 for treating central nervous system African sleeping sickness (15). Cases of African sleeping sickness are rarely imported into the United States.

Nifurtimox
Nifurtimox (Bayer 2502, Lampit), an investigational drug, is a nitrofurfurylidene derivative. It was developed for the treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas' disease. The drug is distributed by CDC to treat patients with acute, subacute, or early chronic Chagas' disease. Although few indigenous cases of Chagas' disease have been described in the United States, cases may develop in laboratory workers, immigrants, and U.S. citizens returning from Latin America (e.g., Peace Corps volunteers, military personnel, and missionaries) (16).

Pentostam
Pentostam (sodium stibogluconate; sodium antimony gluconate) is a pentavalent antimony compound used for treatment of all forms of leishmaniasis. The 3 major clinical syndromes in humans are visceral (kala-azar), cutaneous (Oriental sore), and mucosal leishmaniasis. Pentostam is a well-established antileishmanial agent that is used in many countries of the world and is available to U.S. licensed physicians under an IND protocol through the CDC (17, 18).

Suramin
Suramin (Bayer 205, Germanin, Moranyl, Fourneau 309, Belganyl, Naphuride, Antrypol) was introduced in 1920 for the treatment of African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness). Suramin is considered the drug of choice for the therapy of early Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense sleeping sickness when the central nervous system is not involved. Currently, pentamidine is thought to be more effective than suramin for the therapy of early sleeping sickness due to Trypanosoma brucei gambiense.

Suramin has also been used to destroy the adult worm (Onchocerca volvulus) in onchocerciasis but, due to its toxicity, it is rarely used for this. Ivermectin is considered the primary agent for treatment of onchocerciasis. Suramin has also demonstrated antitumor activity against prostatic, ovarian, and adrenocortical carcinoma. However, appropriate dose, efficacy, and safety have not been established for treatment of neoplasms.* The CDC supplies suramin under an IND protocol to licensed physicians (19).

Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.