An example is dinoprostone, marketed in South Africa as Prostin E2 by Pfizer South Africa (but curiously not listed on their website).
After assessment at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital he had been returned to the regional hospital for growth, receiving a quarter Prostin E2 tablet half-hourly for maintenance of his PDA.
Unbeknown to South African paediatric cardiologists and most pharmacists nationally, stocks of Prostin E2 had become critically depleted.
Apparently Pfizer representatives had informed obstetric/ gynaecological practitioners, but according to their spokesperson they were 'not allowed' to discuss an off-label drug with paediatric cardiologists, despite the fact that Prostin E2 is the only oral dinoprostone available in South Africa and has been in use as outlined for many years.
To their credit, when the potential impending crisis in congenital cardiac care was brought to Pfizer's attention in mid-January 2009, they expedited the delivery of fresh stocks to suppliers, and by Monday 26 January the supply of Prostin E2 had resumed nationwide.