Amid confusion over Pfizer’s emergency penicillin program, newborn is diagnosed with preventable syphilis Rise in adult cases and Bicillin shortage set stage for ’never event’

https://www.statnews.com/2026/06/15/pfizer-bicillin-shortage-preventable-congenital-syphilis-surging/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_56UZJHlWa2EG5CiZbTHIjQzKfpD5XD68viLBj_hQX2c3qHZL8muBB5spe4TUBzYNjx99wOvIXSp96J_IpDU2bmDBEyA&_hsmi=423738578&utm_content=423738578&utm_source=hs_email By Eric BoodmanJune 15, 2026 For this story, Boodman obtained email chains between Pfizer and health officials and conducted interviews with 10 state health departments, eight local health agencies, six health system pharmacists, and former and current CDC officials, as well as infectious disease specialists, OB-GYNs, and representatives of Pfizer and Cost Plus Drugs, among other sources. A child born with congenital syphilis could suffer dire consequences: bone deformities, brain damage, blindness, deafness, and more. But that should be a ‘never event’ as public health officials say: A pregnant person can receive an injectable form of penicillin to prevent the infection. Somehow, rates keep going up anyway. Between 2012 and 2024, the U.S. saw an 800% increase in babies born with the disease. And since last year, there’s been a shortage of the drug. Pfizer, the only company that sells it, has an emergency request system for pregnant patients. But public health officials say the program is confusing and that some companies may get preferential treatment. In his latest story, STAT's Eric Boodman illustrates each hurdle that kept one Arizona mother from accessing the medication before delivering her baby, despite multiple attempts on her behalf to obtain the drug. He reviewed email chains between Pfizer and health officials, while also conducting interviews with local health agencies, pharmacists, infectious disease specialists, OB-GYNs, and Mark Cuban.