9 in 10 US Cancer Centers Face Shortage of at Least 1 Cancer Drug

Shortages of cancer drugs plague the United States, impacting patient treatment and impeding progress of new therapies, according to a recent survey by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). Among the 28 cancer centers that took part in the survey, 89 percent continued to report shortages for at least one type of cancer medication, according to a June 26 NCCN press release. This is up from 86 percent of centers reporting shortages in October. In the current survey, 75 percent experienced a shortage of two or more drugs. “Critical drug shortages were not a new problem last year and they continue to be a problem now,” said Crystal S. Denlinger, chief executive officer at NCCN....