Resilient Drug Supply Project Newsletter
Oct 2, 2023
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New report analyzes major drug companies' efforts to boost access to generic, biosimilar drugs
A new Access to Medicine Foundation analysis of five major pharmaceutical companies highlights their strategies to improve access to generic and biosimilar drugs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) but finds a lack of efforts to make medications more affordable.
The inaugural report from the foundation's Generic & Biosimilar Medicines Programme looks at the efforts of Cipla, Hikma, Sun Pharma, Teva, and Viatris to identify gaps in reliable, affordable essential drugs in poor countries.
"Although examples of access strategies could be identified, within these there was almost no evidence of strategies designed to boost affordability by taking ability-to-pay into account, especially for patients paying out of pocket," the Access to Medicine news release said. Read the full story.
US Pharma Supply Chain
A key American plant making antibiotics for kids risks shutting down (Bloomberg, Sep 25) [link]
Canada's Appili gets US FDA approval for oral antibiotic solution (Reuters, Sep 25) [link]
Amoxicillin drug shortage worries parents heading into cold season (WTMJ-TV Milwaukee, Sep 25) [link]
Pediatric cancer drugs in shortage as drug supply crisis drags on (NBC News, Sep 25) [link]
Tornado at Pfizer plant accentuates US drug shortage issues (Chemistry World, Sep 20) [link]
Opinion: Congress can and must act to help alleviate unprecedented drug shortages (The Hill, Sep 20) [link]
InnovationRx: Making the pharma supply chain more resilient (Forbes, Sep 20) [link]
Opinion: Price controls worsen America's drug shortage (The Hill, Sep 16) [link]
Shortage of weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic persist—and could for some years (Forbes, Sep 16) [link]
Health subcommittee members at odds over drafted drug shortage legislation (Fierce Healthcare, Sep 15) [link]
Cancer experts demand action to end ongoing drug shortage: 'People's lives are really at stake' (CNN, Sep 13) [link]
Laxatives: What to know about a shortage that Americans are facing (Fox 10, Sep 13) [link]
Ensuring access to generic medications in the US (Health Affairs, Sep 12) [link]
ADHD drug shortages worsen as makers say production is maxed out (Bloomberg, Sep 12) [link]
Recalls and shutdowns worsen drug shortage crisis (BioSpace, Aug 30) [link]
The ADHD drug market is already stretched thin. Now it's facing a back-to-school strain (CNBC, Aug 26) [link]
ADHD drug shortage set to ease as generic Vyvanse approved (Bloomberg Law, Aug 25) [link]
Anti-infectives not immune to drug shortages (IDSE Infectious Disease, Aug 22) [link]
Global Pharma Supply Chain
Czech law amendment to address drug shortages draws criticism (Euractiv, Sep 25) [link]
Shortage of drugs forces TB officers to prioritize sicker patients; many in fear for their lives (Indian Express, Sep 18) [link]
Germany gears up to avert winter drug shortages (Euractiv, Sep 15) [link]
Ahead of UN General Assembly, pharmaceutical industry underscores need for pandemic preparedness plans to support innovation and equity (International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations news release, Sep 13) [link]
Shortage of scabies treatment 'likely to become a major public health issue' (The Pharmaceutical Journal, Sep 13) [link]
Seventeen months into Sri Lanka's financial crisis, crucial medicines remain in short supply (Direct Relief, Sep 11) [link]
Supply of acetaminophen, ibuprofen and cough and cold medicines: Notice (Government of Canada, Sep 6) [link]
Europe to face shortage of Lilly's diabetes drug through September (Reuters, Aug 28) [link]
FDA News
FDA makes some strides in easing US cancer drug supply shortages by working with manufacturers (Endpoints News, Sep 13) [link]
DSCSA deadline has been pushed back a year (Securing Industry, Sep 6) [link]
Drug shortages shine spotlight on FDA powers (The Hill, Aug 29) [link]
Drug Quality, Recalls, and Plant Shutdowns
Focus: Cough syrup deaths overseas prompt US crackdown on toxic testing (Reuters, Sep 26) [link]
Generics maker VistaPharm recalls ulcer med on bacteria contamination fears (Fierce Pharma, Sep 25) [link]
Sequent Scientific Ltd gets Form 483 with one observation from US FDA for Vizag facility (Equity Bulls, Sep 23) [link]
Cipla unit's US facility receives 5 observations from American drug regulator; shares fall (Zeebiz, Sep 21) [link]
Aurobindo Pharma's facility receives US FDA Form 483 with procedural observation (RepublicWorld, Sep 20) [link]
Novo Nordisk shares fall after media report about quality lapses at US plant (Reuters, Sep 18) [link]
FDA issues warning letters to firms marketing unapproved eye products (FDA, Sep 12) [link]
Recall: Weaker heart medication got put in bottles for stronger drugs and vice versa (Miami Herald, Sep 11) [link]
Novartis issues voluntary nationwide recall of one lot of Sandimmune oral solution (cyclosporine oral solution, USP), 100 mg/mL due to crystallization (FDA, Sep 11) [link]
FDA issues warning letters to three infant formula manufacturers (FDA, Aug 30) [link]
Glenmark, Baxter issue separate recalls for hypertension and cancer drugs (Fierce Pharma, Aug 28) [link]
More from RDSP
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Disclaimer: The news articles listed here are not meant to be an endorsement by RDSP or CIDRAP.
