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. 2013 Jul;9(4):e122-8.
doi: 10.1200/JOP.2012.000799. Epub 2013 Mar 19.

Impact of oncology drug shortages on patient therapy: unplanned treatment changes

Daniel J Becker  1 , Sumit Talwar, Benjamin P Levy, Molly Thorn, Janna Roitman, Ronald H Blum, Louis B Harrison, Michael L Grossbard
Affiliations

Impact of oncology drug shortages on patient therapy: unplanned treatment changes

Daniel J Becker et al. J Oncol Pract. 2013 Jul.

Abstract

Purpose: Cancer drug shortages have increased considerably over the past 5 years, but quantitative analyses of the scope and effects are limited. We assessed the effects of drug shortages on outpatient medication use in a single New York City university hospital.

Methods: We examined pharmacy records for drug shortages, as defined by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. We assessed outpatient records for all patients with cancer treated with infusional antineoplastic medications from April 2010 to September 2010 and April 2011 to September 2011.

Results: Twelve medications were in shortage in 2010 and 22 in 2011. Drugs in shortage were used for 170 patients (50.8%) in 2010 and 241 patients (63.6%) in 2011 (P < .001). Of 235 patients treated in August-September 2011, there were 23(9.8%) documented therapy changes due to shortages, compared with zero changes in August-September 2010 (P < .001). Among patients treated in August-September 2010, 24 (11.4%) received paclitaxel and 19 (9.0%) received docetaxel. Among patients treated in August-September 2011, 11 (4.7%) received paclitaxel and 38 (16.2%) received docetaxel, a 69% decrease for paclitaxel and 80% increase for docetaxel from 1 year prior (P = .009, and P = .024, respectively). The estimated cost of a single treatment with paclitaxel for one patient with body-surface area 1.75 was $47.59 versus $858.39 for docetaxel, a 1,704% increase. Surveyed physicians frequently reported lower level evidence (30.4%) and increased risk of toxicity (34.8%) with alternative therapy in drug shortage cases.

Conclusion: Oncology drug shortages affected the majority of patients in our center and increased at an alarming rate. Drug shortages have substantial economic costs and mandate treatment changes that may affect efficacy and toxicity.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Clinical impact of drug shortages in 2010 and 2011.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Use of taxanes in August-September 2010 and 2011.
Figure A1.
Figure A1.
Survey results showing physician reports on (A) efficacy and (B) toxicity risk of alternate regimens used in cases of drug shortages.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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