Cost Plus Drug Company, an online pharmacy founded by Mark Cuban, announced that it is collaborating with the FDA to temporarily import and distribute penicillin in the U.S. This move aims to alleviate the shortage of Pfizer's Bicillin L-A, a pediatric version of the drug used to treat syphilis and other bacterial infections.

Cost Plus will immediately import and distribute 1.2 million units of penicillin. The shortage of Bicillin L-A was initially reported by Pfizer in June 2022, attributing it to a rise in syphilis infections among adults. In a June 10, 2023 update, Pfizer stated that they currently have an "available supply" of 2.4 million units of Bicillin L-A. However, the company noted that while supply is improving, full availability is not expected until later this year.

The penicillin imported by Cost Plus will be the Lentocilin brand, a penicillin powder marketed by Laboratórios Atral S.A., a Portugal-based company. Lentocilin will be available in the U.S. only by prescription and is not FDA approved, according to a statement from Atral.

Cost Plus did not immediately respond to a request for comment.