FDA permits import of unapproved Chinese cancer drug to alleviate U.S. shortage.

The FDA has authorized the temporary importation of an unapproved chemotherapy drug, cisplatin, from China to ease the acute shortage of cancer drugs in the US. Qilu Pharmaceutical, one of the 10 largest drug manufacturers in China, received FDA permission to export the drug to the US market weeks ago. Cisplatin is a generic drug that has been available for decades in the US and is distributed by several approved manufacturers, but they have been unable to keep up with demand. The national shortage of cisplatin began in February after an Indian pharmaceutical company temporarily halted production for the US market.