Nephron Pharmaceuticals of West Columbia reports demand for its medications is so high it is shattering sales records.

Nephron makes inhalation solutions and suspension products that treat respiratory conditions.

Nephron can produce about 100 million doses of its respiratory nebulizer solution a month. But in the first half of March it already has orders for 87 million doses.

The company plans to expand its production as orders spike for treatments used to combat respiratory illnesses, including covid-19 caused by the novel corona virus.

CEO Lou Kennedy, said the company’s 8 product lines are operating 24 hours a day year round.

Nephron is seeking FDA approval to ramp up production of medicines used in the treatment of covid-19.

Kennedy has been in talks with the federal agency since December about bringing up to 6 new lines on production.

Kennedy said Nephron has received FDA approval to begin making its own hand sanitizer.

“We will take care of the Nephron family first, and after we do that, we will look at should we go through churches, the Salvation Army, how can we help the community, and/ or commercial production,” she said.

“Hospitals are asking can we make that hand sanitizer for them.”

She plans to produce 50-liter batches of a strong, FDA recipe without fragrances or other diluting agents.

Kennedy said she said she will give to local charities what is left over from the first batch, after Nephron employees and their families have been served.

Nephron has also opened a childcare facility from 8 am to 5 pm to help employees with their children, as schools have been closed.