Cancer Drug Shortages Prompt Last-Minute Treatment Changes: Survey
In recent years, a significant amount of chemotherapy drugs shortages have impacted cancer centers worldwide, causing patients’ treatments to change suddenly at the last minute. A new survey reveals that carboplatin and cisplatin, two critical Platinum-based chemo drugs used to treat and cure various cancer types, including breast, lung, prostate and several leukemia and lymphomas, have a staggering shortage rate of 93% and 70%, respectively.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a not-for-profit alliance of leading cancer centers, surveyed 27 medical institutions in the US to gauge the impact of chemo drug shortages on cancer centers. Results from the survey showed that all centers surveyed could still continue to provide cisplatin treatment without any form of delay. However, only 64% of centers could still maintain all carboplatin patients on the drug, as 20% of centers could only provide the drug to specific patients.
The NCCN senior director of policy and advocacy, Alyssa Schatz, stated that “By sharing this survey and calling for united action across the oncology community, we can come together to prevent future drug shortages and ensure quality, effective, equitable, and accessible cancer care for all.”
Chinese Company To Boost Cisplatin Supply
A Chinese pharmaceutical company, Qilu Pharmaceutical, in collaboration with Canadian pharmaceutical Apotex, the US Food and Drug Administration, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, is set to import cisplatin, a widespread cancer drug sure to aid chemo drug shortage. The US Federal Administration (FDA) and Qilu were in touch last week regarding the regulatory requirements for Qilu to supply cisplatin in America, as more treatment centers report shortages.
Reports reveal that Apotex will distribute the drug in 50 milligram Vials to cancer treatment facilities. News about the availability of more chemo drugs will be a sigh of relief to Oncologists and pharmacists nationwide, as patients can gain easy access to drugs that will aid their cancer treatment effectively.
Mandatory Solutions To Problem
An urgent appeal is set towards all concerned parties to prevent recurring cancer drug shortages that deprive cancer patients from getting optimal treatment. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network has stressed the need to seek more drugs, cut down on wastage of some, and ensure secure distribution to patients. They call on the Federal government, the pharmaceutical industry, cancer treatment providers, and insurance companies to do their part in providing a long-term solution to the problem.
Summary
Cancer drug shortages have led to the last-minute change of treatments for patients. Carboplatin and Cisplatin are both critical platinum-based drugs used in treating cancer, and the shortage rate of both drugs are staggering, impacting patients’ ability to obtain the proper treatment. Fortunately, a Chinese pharmaceutical company ‘Qilu Pharmaceutical’ is set to import a widespread cancer drug (Cisplatin). A recent survey revealed that the National Comprehensive Cancer Network is taking up mandatory measures to solve the continuing problem of drug shortages and called upon all concerned parties to provide a long-term solution to the problem.
Additional Piece
Cancer Drug Shortages: How to Ensure Adequate Supply?
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to sweep the world, researches reveal that other health issues in society have been lost in the fray and require urgent attention. The scarcity of cancer drugs and their rising cost has been an increasing concern in the Oncology community. A single oncology practice recently revealed that drug prices tripled from $500 to $1500, leaving physicians with ethical dilemmas over patients’ financial strains.
Several reasons have been associated with cancer drug shortages and cost increase. Firstly, the lack of incentives to low-cost generic drug-making companies and the high cost of research and development has resulted in an inadequate supply of cancer drugs. Secondly, the distribution networks for supplying these drugs are complex, making it difficult to track transportation movements, leading to wastage and a shortage of cancer drugs.
To ensure adequate supply and access to cancer drugs, Cross-collaboration between organizations and drug-manufacturing companies must be established. Collaboration between drug manufacturing companies will improve competition and reduce the costs of chemo drugs and improve supply. Moreover, it is crucial to establish a drug donation platform where affluent patients can donate to less affluent patients.
Making Cancer drugs readily available requires the Federal government, cancer treatment providers, and insurance companies to provide financial incentives for low-cost generic drug-making companies, secure transportation, and distribution networks. Partially government-owned pharmaceutical industries can also reduce the cost of drugs by providing the public with low-cost drugs.
Ultimately, a global response to finding a solution to this recurring problem is needed to ensure quality and affordable cancer treatment for all.
In conclusion, it is essential to find a lasting solution to cancer drug shortage problems plaguing Oncology centers in America and around the world. Establishing collaborations with drug manufacturing companies, establishing donation platforms, providing financial incentives to generic drug-making companies, and partial government ownership of pharmaceutical industries will undoubtedly help solve the problem and ensure the adequate supply of chemo drugs to cancer treatment facilities.
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By Cara Murez
HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, June 8, 2023 (HealthDay News) — A new survey of cancer centers finds that chemotherapy shortages affect the majority of them, prompting last-minute changes in treatment for many types of cancer.
Some 93% of the surveyed centers said they were experiencing shortages of the drug carboplatin, while 70% were short of cisplatin. Together, these platinum chemotherapies can treat and even cure cancers, including lung, breast, prostate, and many leukemias and lymphomas.
“This is an unacceptable situation. We are listening to oncologists and pharmacists across the country who are struggling to find appropriate alternatives to treat their cancer patients at this time,” said Dr. Robert Carlson, executive director of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, in a press release. about the widespread shortage
“We are relieved by the survey results showing that patients can still receive vital care, but it places a burden on our overburdened medical facilities. We need to work together to improve the current situation and prevent it from happening again in the future,” Carlson added.
The entire oncology community must work together to find solutions, the NCCN said, also calling on the federal government, the pharmaceutical industry, cancer treatment providers and insurance companies to do their part.
“The causes and solutions to recurring cancer drug shortages that deprive cancer patients of optimal therapy are manifold and reparable. Effective solutions require a full oncology effort to be successful,” the statement read.
In the Survey, the NCCN surveyed 27 NCCN member institutions in the United States from May 23-31.
While the survey found that all centers were still able to treat patients requiring cisplatin without delay, only 64% were able to keep all current carboplatin patients on the drug. Another 20% said they could only provide carboplatin to some patients.
About 16% reported delays in treatment due to the need to re-obtain prior authorization for modified treatment plans. None had received outright denials, the survey showed.
“These results demonstrate the widespread impact of chemotherapy shortages,” said Alyssa Schatz, NCCN’s senior director of policy and advocacy. “We hope that by sharing this survey and calling for united action across the oncology community, we can come together to prevent future drug shortages and ensure quality, effective, equitable, and accessible cancer care for all.” .
Together, the drugs are estimated to be used to treat the cancer of up to 500,000 new patients each year.
Fortunately, a Chinese company may soon help boost the supply of cisplatin in particular.
On Monday, the US Food and Drug Administration announced it is working with Chinese drugmaker Qilu Pharmaceutical to import the widely used cancer drug. Canadian pharmaceutical Apotex will distribute the drug in 50-milligram vials, CNN informed.
Health care providers were able to start ordering the drug on Tuesday.
More information
The American Cancer Society has more about how chemotherapy drugs work.
SOURCE: National Comprehensive Cancer Network, press release, June 7, 2023
https://www.webmd.com/lung-cancer/news/20230608/cancer-centers-say-drug-shortages-are-impacting-patient-care?src=RSS_PUBLIC
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