Bayer withdraws its poultry antibiotic

In a historic move, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reportedly forced a company to withdraw an antibiotic from the market place.

The Bayer Corp. agreed to withdraw its poultry antibiotic Baytril because of concerns the drug would make similar antibiotics less effective in treating people, The Washington Post reported Friday.

After a five-year battle with the FDA, Bayer announced Thursday it will immediately stop selling Baytril, a close relative to the widely used human antibiotic Cipro, which is also manufactured by the Germany-based Bayer.

"We disagree with the FDA's conclusion about our drug," said Bayer spokesman Robert Walker. "But we understand they made a scientific decision, and courts tend to defer back to the agency. It seemed like the chances that we would be successful in court were small."

The makers of at least three other types of penicillin manufactured for use on livestock face similar regulatory concerns.

Experts say wider use of an antibiotic -- by either animals or people -- results in an increased risk of resistance, the Post reported.

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