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Jeff Childers's avatar

I removed the 2012 Medscape article and replaced it with this NBC story from yesterday:

HEADLINE: "As cancer drug shortages grow, some doctors are forced to ration doses or delay care"

SUB-HEAD: "Fourteen cancer drugs are in shortage, according to the Food and Drug Administration."

According to a March report from the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, drug shortages are at record highs. New drug shortages increased by nearly 30% between 2021 and 2022. By the end of 2022, there was a record five-year high of 295 active drug shortages.

“I don’t know of a time that’s worse than this,” said Dr. Julie Gralow, the chief medical officer and executive vice president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. “What’s different about this shortage is, I think, it’s just the broad applicability of these drugs, how important they are[.]"

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/cancer/cancer-drug-shortages-14-medicines-now-short-supply-fda-says-rcna86106

And this one, from the New York Times, ten days ago:

HEADLINE: Drug Shortages Near an All-Time High, Leading to Rationing

SUB-HEAD: A worrisome scarcity of cancer drugs has heightened concerns about the troubled generic drug industry. Congress and the White House are seeking ways to address widespread supply problems.

Thousands of patients are facing delays in getting treatments for cancer and other life-threatening diseases, with drug shortages in the United States approaching record levels.

“This is, in my opinion, a public health emergency,” said Dr. Amanda Fader, a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and a president-elect of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, “because of the breadth of the individuals it affects and the number of chemotherapy agents that are in shortage right now.”

https://archive.ph/GAS1j#selection-287.0-341.0

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William's avatar

Excellent and fascinating summary, Jeff.

Wish I understood (so I could replicate) how you turn these summaries out so quickly. I, too, came across the german study yesterday, but was only 1/2 way through reading it before your post arrived in my inbox. You have a true gift. Thanks for sharing it with the world.

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