94% of Cancer Doctors Say Patients Affected by Drug Shortages

This seems like the type of headline you’d expect to see in a 3rd world country not the US.  But, we’ve been talking about drug shortages for years, and while it may be better in a few areas, cancer isn’t one of them.

I was recently reminded of this in an AJMC article which was discussed at ASCO and had this data point about 94% of oncologists and hematologists from a University of Pennsylvania study.  

Looking back a few years, I think IMS did one of the best studies on this topic.  Here’s a few of the items they highlight from the study (with links to their charts).

• The drug shortages problem is highly concentrated with more than 80% of the products generics and 80% injectables, representing a small part of the overall pharmaceuticals market.
• A number of critical drugs on the shortages list are used to treat cancer, infection, cardiovascular disease, central nervous system conditions and pain.
• A large number of suppliers are involved, but most drugs on the shortages list have only one or two sources of supply.
• Total supply volume for many products on the shortages list has been stable or growing, but significant volatility exists.
• Supply volume for a group of 75 products has fallen substantially.
• Some states are experiencing the drug shortages more acutely than others.

It can be a little mind-boggling.

• Is it an issue of planning and forecasting demand?
• Is it an economic issue of not enough profit in these drugs?
• Is it an issue of quality where these get shut down due to manufacturing issues?
• Is it a structural issue of too few suppliers?
• Is it a raw materials issue?