Premier subsidiary ProvideGx is now supplying cysteine hydrochloride injection, an intravenous nutrition drug for pediatric and adult patients that has been in short supply since 2015.
The injection, which is made in partnership with Exela Pharma Sciences, will be available to Premier's member providers. It is the only FDA-approved version of the drug.
Supplies of cysteine hydrochloride are imported from Canada under FDA rules that allow drugs in shortage to be brought in from abroad if no domestic supplies are available.
"This partnership is a game changer for us," Terry Webb, vice president of pharmacy services at Roselle, Calif.-based Adventist Health, said in a news release. "Having a safer, FDA-approved and domestic supply of cysteine hydrochloride will greatly benefit the newborn patients we serve."