What all does Nephron Pharmaceuticals make? Here’s what to know as SC workers are furloughed

Nephron Pharmaceuticals makes quite a few products — at least for now.

But what exactly are those products?

The major Columbia-area employer announced Thursday evening that it decided to furlough an unspecified number of workers for approximately 90 days “as a result of business need.”

Nephron, which employs 4,000 full and part-time employees, has faced struggles recently. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration hit Nephron with a negative inspection report last spring about the company’s product sterility process. And in December, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs told nearly 40,000 veterans using Nephron products to stop.

What does Nephron produce?

According to the Nephron’s website, the company mainly makes inhalation products, medical-grade nitrile gloves and sterile pre-filled medications.

Respiratory therapy

The company lists 12 different inhalation medications that it makes and sells to customers, including hospitals, retail pharmacies, home care companies, long-term care facilities and mail order pharmacies.

Among those is Racepinephrine Inhalation Solution 2.25%, which is used to treat bronchial asthma.

Another is Sodium Chloride Inhalation Solution USP 3%, which is used to treat conditions that cause thick mucus in lungs.

The company also makes Ipratropium Bromide Inhalation Solution 0.02%, which is used to help prevent shortness of breath or wheezing symptoms caused by lung diseases like bronchitis and emphasema.

Nitrile gloves

Nephron boasts online that its powder-free gloves are American-made and help protect against the spread of germs and diseases.

Nitrile gloves are made of a type of synthetic rubber and are generally durable enough to withstand harsh chemicals and punctures. They also eliminate the risk of allergy reactions from latex, another type of material used to make gloves.

Sterile pre-filled medications

Nephron states that is has more than 20 years of sterile pharmaceutical manufacturing experience and produces those products from an outsourcing facility. This division makes pre-filled syringes and other types of sterile medications for U.S. hospitals and medical facilities “in an effort to alleviate their drug shortage needs,” the company’s website states.

Nephron lists more than two dozen products that this division makes, such as a couple of versions of morphine injections, along with other types of pain relief medications.

It also makes a type of epinephrine injection, used to treat severe allergic reactions.

Another product the company makes is phenylephrine injections, used to treat low blood pressure that may occur during surgeries.