SHORTAGES OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS IN THE DDR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R010800290004-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 6, 2006
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: March 20, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

1. Sera
INFORMATION REPORT
Approved For Release 2006/0303 E P82-00457R010800290004-1
a a
r.S `" T/CDr1TFF.0L -~ U.S. OFFICIA.W ONLY
CLa SSIt-ICp~ ATION
.~CURITY' INFOR U; TION
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, REPORT NO.
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
25X1 PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF'
INFO.
CD NO.
NO. OF PAGES
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
DO NOT CIRCULATE,
In September and October 1951 a great shortage of diphtheria sera was apparent
in the DDR:. Neither the SAchsisches Serum Wex ;, Dresden, nor the Asid-Serum
Institut (VVB Pharma),Berlin,could relieve this shortage. Sera of up to
14000 AH*strength were available, but the needed 6000 AE strength sera were
unobtainable.
2. Codeine and moahin?
The production of morpolne by Jenapharm was sufficient for DDR needs. Small
amounts of codeine were sporadically available from Jenapharm, Jena, but
these were not sufficient to meet the needs of the DDR. In October 1951,
600 kg. of Codeine were actually stored at Jenapharm but could not be distributed,
in spite of the great needs of the hospitals. The difficulty was caused by
the high price asked by Jenapharm, that of 3000 DM East/kg. This is about
four times the normal market price. The matter was referred to the Ministry
of Finance to resolve.
3. Miscellaneous pharmaceutical chemicals
Particular shortages of the following products were apparent:
Atropine and other belladonna alkaloids
Pilocarpine * and physostigmine
Iodine and iodine salts
Barbituric acid and derivatives
Ephedrine
Antineuralgics and antipyretics of the pyrazolone series
(Phenyldimethylpyrazolone, Dimethylamino-pleryldimethylpyrazolone, etc.)
DHZ Chemie/Pharmazie has been unable to relieve these shortages from either
imports or internal production, although Jenapharm supplied small amounts
of ephedrine,
CONFIDENTIAL
Germany (Russian Zone) DATE DISTR.
Shortages of Pharmaceutical Products
in the DDR
THIS DOCURI FLIT 1:OHTAINS i NFORW ATION AFFECTINS THS NATIONAL DEFEI: BE
OF THE UNITED STATES. WITHIN THE HEADING OF TITLE 10, SECTIONS :'LIB
ATION OF ITS CONTENTS TO OR NRCEIPT BY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON
IS PROHIBITED BY LAW THE REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PROHIBITED.
STATE
PRMY
. CLASSIFICATION SECT/CONTROL - U.S... OFFICIALS ONLY
L1anw x PISR8 f ! 4'D)sTRIBUT)ON
Approved For Release 2006/03/03 : CIA
20 March 1952
 Approved For Release 2006/03/03 : CIA-RDrP82-00457R010800290004-1
:f'CCDw C - uea. o f icl . Oaf
-;W
EHTF .L INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Import of pharmaceutical products
The only imports which DHZ-Chr .e/Pharmasie was able-to distribute in October
1951 were Oo5 metric :tore of camcmi.le from Hungary and 1 metric tons of
Vol, Mentho pipe (sic), from Bulgaria,
?j fo ?.~ *?
ry, sAizati omtl difficulties and chart _FAj were
Some poor qt ality cemonfiils and pep ermint were oultivated in 1953. in, the
DDR. The corresponding,, pharmaceutical products 'had to be imported, however. (Sae
pax ,r raph 4), The main difficulty has been not: the poor pekoe paid to
the . cultivator but the, over-organization of the DDR distributing group.-
he culti. ~;n q,or must offer all phw--aatc eu i cal produ c to yVEAB` (Vere .rn.gung
Viola ~ f ass~zrzgsM and Ai c?k4 ~~ bet i Abe 3 E& yells at a 7 pxaofi v 'o ' Uhh
Ghee/male "" the 17;1Z sells b ax _a n at a pro ati -rt o 'industry or to
pas.:~lacis"A, Often the products r ed purif:lcattcr c ti U. ttier 'p:v,? tLon,
in which case there is anothe:4: step; between DHZ and the r+et er?
The bupply position Liay os 4,- ovcd scI;iC' het. when,, aw is c cted shortly,
ph:. - :acc uticals are no 1onj er merely one of the responsibilities of 3Z,.,
Cherrdle. They are to be hardled by a new department, DHZ -> A tbedarjf u d
,I ,a ?,nazi~e0 .he personnel setup. for this new DHZ,,,. 'which will be subordinate to the
'Mini try of Health, 4 s now being approved, by the Ministry of the lateriora
The new DHZ 11 absoro the old DiiZ,_fAxrt -ur:d Krankexrhausbedarn9 In
pharmaceutical circles it is thought likely that one Gl aser0 fnu,, now
head of DH -Chemi.e, will be in charge of the new DHZp
Gori7mantx Anttt tiaa uni
Cos ? cmt; 'xil-.ocorpine is extracted from the leaves of the jabor~andi
o oF 3ragaaya
5."`K .ET/CONTRA - U. S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2006/03/03 : CIA-RDP82-00457R010800290004-1