Drug Shortages in Canada
Source:Montreal Gazette
From:Taiwan Trade Center, Toronto
Update Time:2019/09/03
Oncologists in Montreal and across Canada are alarmed by a chronic shortage of three essential cancer drugs: Vinorelbine (used for non-small lung cancer and metastatic breast cancer), Leucovorin (used to decrease the toxic side effects of two other chemo drugs) and Etoposide (used for lung cancer, malignant lymphomas and testicular cancer). What these three drugs share in common is they have all gone off-patent, making them less profitable to manufacture comparing to so-called brand name medications.
The shortage of Leucovorin is expected to end on Sept. 15. For Etoposide, Teva Canada Ltd could resume its supply in early August but Sandoz Canada Ltd might not be able to do so until May 4, 2020. The most serious shortage involves Vinorelbine with no projected date for when supplies will resume.
The supply of Vinorelbine dropped because two pharmaceutical companies, Pfizer Canada and Teva Canada Ltd., have stopped producing the drug, citing “raw material availability” and “business reasons” respectively as the cause for the discontinuation. Two other generic drug makers who produce Vinorelbine are also struggling with a “disruption of the manufacture of the drug.” Matthew R. Kuhn, senior director of external communications for Fresenius Kabi USA, blamed the shortage of Vinorelbine on “challenges sourcing the active pharmaceutical ingredient.”
For the time being, the cancer-drug shortages have had no impact on patients, as oncologists have been using equally effective substitutes. However, they are worried that this approach can last for only so long. More so, cancer medications are not the only kind of drugs in short supply. According to the Canadian Pharmacists Association, drug shortages overall have increased in the past five years.
The issue is that drug shortages do not only have a significant impact on patients but will also cost pharmacists more and more time in helping patients to mitigate the impact. There is, therefore, potential for new business opportunities for overseas drug suppliers if existing Canadian suppliers fail to meet the rising demand.
Source:https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/montreal-cancer-doctors-scramble-amid-shortage-of-three-essential-drugs