ASHP Reports Worsening Chemotherapy Shortages in Q3
In its Q3 drug shortage report, ASHP finds chemotherapy shortages worsened even as total active U.S. drug shortages held steady at 225. A Pfizer manufacturing facility flood in India, affecting generic chemo agents for several cancers, is expected to disrupt supply into 2028, compounding existing shortages of drugs like ifosfamide and carboplatin. Cancer centers and children's hospitals cite chemotherapy as their top shortage concern due to limited alternatives, and 16% of active shortages involve controlled substances affecting chronic pain and ADHD patients. ASHP recommends reshoring manufacturing and long-term purchasing contracts, while noting a federal initiative aims to relocate production of 86 essential medicines to the U.S. within 18 months.