Pharmaceutical Companies and Drug Shortages

Drug shortages are putting pharmaceutical companies on the hot seat.

The St. Paul Pioneer-Press (1/39, Snowbeck) reported, “Drug shortages are putting pharmaceutical companies on the hot seat. Last week, medical-products giant Johnson & Johnson assured shareholders that it is doing everything possible to resolve a shortage of a chemotherapy drug called Doxil [liposomal doxorubicin], which is used by patients with ovarian and other sorts of cancer.” Though the company said the liposomal doxorubicin shortage probably won’t be resolved until much later this year.

Hospital pharmacists are spending 8 to 12 additional hours per week dealing with shortages, costing the health care system about $216 million a year.” What’s more, the shortage “has been more acute for Adderall, which is a composite of three kinds of amphetamine salts, because it has fewer manufacturers than Ritalin.” The Tribune adds.