Shortage of Critical Cancer Drugs Puts Patients at Risk in US

1 min read
Source: Ars Technica
Shortage of Critical Cancer Drugs Puts Patients at Risk in US
Photo: Ars Technica
TL;DR

The US is facing a dire shortage of cheap, generic platinum-based cancer drugs, leading doctors to ration the drugs and prioritize patients who have a shot at being cured. Some patients may only receive 60-80% of standard doses, and doctors don't know how this will affect outcomes. The shortage was triggered by the FDA's inspection of a drug manufacturing facility in India, which had supplied around half of the generic cisplatin and carboplatin in the US. The shortage is expected to continue, and the long-term cracks in the generic drug industry will likely remain.

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