The shortage of cancer treatment drugs carboplatin and cisplatin in the United States is an ongoing issue leading to delayed or modified treatment plans for patients. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recently surveyed 27 affiliated centers and found that while 100% of centers are still treating patients with cisplatin without any delays or claim denials, only 64% of centers can continue with current carboplatin patients and 20% are only able to prescribe carboplatin to some patients. The head of NCCN referred to the situation as “unacceptable” and called for collaborative efforts to avoid future drug shortages.
Carboplatin and cisplatin are platinum-based chemotherapies used for systemic treatment for various types of cancer and estimated to be used in the treatment of approximately 500,000 new cancer patients per year. The shortage began earlier this year after a factory in India paused production due to quality concerns. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is allowing temporary imports of foreign-approved versions of cisplatin from registered factories, the shortage remains a significant concern in the medical community. Oncologists and pharmacists across the country are scrambling to find alternative medications, leading to delays and burdening medical facilities.
The situation is particularly challenging for physicians who have to have discussions with their patients about not having access to the preferred medication. “It’s really difficult as a physician to have these conversations with a family or a patient about not having a medication you’d like to prescribe to them,” said Dr. Kari Wisinski, a breast cancer specialist.
As we move forward, it is critical for the healthcare system to find solutions to ensure an adequate supply of cancer treatment drugs to avoid having patients resort to inferior or risky treatments.
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