Drug shortages at all-time high: Supplies are low for Amoxicillin, chemo meds, Ozempic
In the first quarter of 2024, 323 drugs were in short supply, up from the previous high of 320 in 2014, says the University of Utah Drug Information Service, as policymakers propose giving the FDA more power over Big Pharma.
A record number of drugs, including several used to treat life-threatening conditions, are in unprecedented short supply.
There were shortages of 323 drugs during the first quarter of this year, up from the previous high of 320 a decade ago, according to the University of Utah Drug Information Service. Affected drugs include the popular new weight-loss treatment Ozempic, as well as epinephrine, amoxicillin, chemotherapy medications and injections that hospitals commonly use in intensive care.
Although some brand-name drugs such as Ozempic are running short simply because their makers haven’t yet caught up with demand, health economists blame most shortages on a broken pharmaceutical supply chain that makes it difficult for generic drugmakers to earn a profit and stay in business. Many generic manufacturers have left the business or offshored production to countries where labor is cheaper. Shortages can result and linger if a factory pauses production.
“We’re not seeing very many shortages resolved,” Erin Fox, a pharmacist who leads the shortage data collection for the University of Utah, told The Wall Street Journal. “For many of these drugs, there really are one or two suppliers, so as you lose capacity there, there isn’t additional redundancy.”
Fixing the problem likely will involve changing the business model, including taking steps that would increase the prices of generic medicines so sales can support manufacturers and attract additional companies, according to researchers and policymakers. The White House earlier this month proposed spending between $3.26 billion and $5.11 billion over a decade to help address shortages. Policymakers also have proposed giving the Food and Drug Administration more power to demand information about shortages and pending shortages. Currently, the FDA mostly is limited to calling manufacturers and asking if they can step up supply to make up for shortfalls elsewhere
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists has made several policy recommendations to address the problem. In the short term, it recommends enforcing existing shortage-prevention requirements; improving transparency into manufacturer quality; and encouraging new manufacturers and manufacturing sites. Long-term policies include encouraging guaranteed-volume contracts; diversifying the manufacturing base; and financing private-sector buffer supplies.
Related: FTC launches probe of drug supply middlemen in worsening generic shortage
“Much work remains to be done at the federal level to fix the root causes of drug shortages,” association CEO Paul Abramowitz wrote in a letter to members. “ASHP will continue to engage with policymakers regularly as we guide efforts to draft and pass new legislation to address drug shortages and continue to strongly advocate on behalf of our members for solutions that work. It’s long past time to put an end to drug shortages.”