Among 31 cancer centers, 100% said they were experiencing a shortage of at least one anti-cancer drug, according to data published Sept. 10 by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
The data summarizes August survey responses from pharmacy directors and other clinical and administrative leaders at 31 NCCN members, a Sept. 10 news release said.
Here are six notes from the survey data:
- Ifosfamide was the most common drug in shortage among the 31 cancer centers, at 94%, followed by carboplatin at 71% and Bacillus Calmette-Guérin at 52%.
- Among 31 cancer centers, 61% said they were using mitigation strategies to continue treatment at the intended dose and schedule for patients receiving drugs under shortage, while 32% said they could continue treatment without mitigation strategies and 7% said they were unable to continue treatment.
- The drug shortage mitigation strategies employed by 28 cancer centers were:
- Waste management: 79%
- Limit use of current stock: 43%
- Use range minimum for recommended dose: 32%
- Other: 29%
- Use range maximum for recommended treatment interval: 21%
- Among 29 cancer centers, 66% said re-prior authorization was needed when a treatment plan was modified before and during treatment, while 14% and 10% said re-prior authorization was only needed before or during treatment, respectively. Only 17% of those cancer centers said obtaining re-prior authorization had delayed treatment.
- Among 31 cancer centers:
- 71% said they had a multidisciplinary committee responsible for drug shortage issues
- 77% said they were aware of drug shortage issues within community practices in their area
- 39% said drug shortages had affected their clinical trials
- Among 23 cancer centers:
- 96% said the drug shortage issue had not changed, for better or worse, since 2023
- 91% said they would like to see economic incentives enacted to encourage high-quality manufacturing of generics
- 57% said they would like better information systems to accredit or rate suppliers of generics
- 48% said they would like generics to be exempt from tariffs
Read the full survey results here.
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