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PALATINE, Ill. — Nexafed, a pseudoephedrine nasal decongestant designed to thwart makers of methamphetamine, is making its chain drug store debut at Kerr Drug.
Acura Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Tuesday that Kerr Drug, with more than 75 stores in North Carolina, is slated to begin stocking Nexafed on its shelves within the next two weeks.
Nexafed is a 30-mg, immediate-release pseudoephedrine cold medicine that combines nasal congestion relief with a unique technology that disrupts the extraction and conversion of pseudoephedrine into methamphetamine. Meth production and abuse is a growing problem in communities nationwide.
If abusers try to extract the pseudoephedrine from Nexafed to make meth, the inactive ingredients in Acura’s Impede polymer matrix technology will form a thick gel to block the extraction and disrupt conversion of pseudoephedrine to methamphetamine.
"We are extremely pleased with Kerr Drugs’s decision to join the fight against methamphetamine abuse by stocking Nexafed," stated Robert Jones, president and chief executive officer of Acura Pharmaceuticals. "We anticipated early interest in Nexafed from independent pharmacies, but it is rewarding that forward-looking drug chains like Kerr Drug are stepping up to make a difference in the communities in which they operate."
Nexafed launched commercially in December and is currently available through national and regional drug wholesalers. According to Acura, Nexafed delivers the same efficacy and is priced comparably to name-brand pseudoephedrine products.
