explore -WSS

explore

author：focus 2025-09-03 03:46:02 - browse：9

Multiple syringes in a vial -- Pharma coverage from STAT — Adobe

Roughly two million Americans are expected to receive a cancer diagnosis this year. Some members of this already vulnerable group will wind up facing what physician Andrew Schuman recently called “a tragedy happening in slow motion” — an ongoing, nationwide shortage of critical oncology drugs that routinely save or extend the lives of children and adults.

Speaking at a March 22 Senate hearing on drug shortages, Schuman, a head and neck surgeon at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, described the agonizing decisions that doctors must make when critical medicines are in short supply. “Should our limited vials go to an older woman who was just diagnosed with lung cancer? To a young man who had already been successfully taking it for his testicular cancer? Or a baby with neuroblastoma?” he asked. “As a doctor who has devoted my life to fighting cancer, it is hard to express how horrible it is to face this kind of tragedy.”

The dilemmas caused by cancer drug shortages are unfortunately nothing new. In the past decade alone, eight of the 10 drugs most commonly used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common kind of childhood cancer type of leukemia, have been temporarily unavailable. The problem has been getting worse: Nationwide shortages of critical drugs increased nearly 30% in 2022, soaring to their highest level in nearly five years, according to a report released by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for the hearing. Oncology drugs currently in short supply include methotrexate, which treats breast and soft tissue cancers; cisplatin, which treats testicular, ovarian, bladder, head and neck, lung, and cervical cancers; fluorouracil, which treats skin cancer; Pluvicto, for prostate cancer; and the injectable bacillus Calmette-Guérin, for bladder cancer.

Unlock this article by subscribing to STAT+ and enjoy your first 30 days free!

GET STARTED Log In

Previous article： Tori Bowie and the unacceptable rates of Black maternal death
Next article： Novo Nordisk to expand supply of Wegovy for U.S. patients

hotspot

WSS

Readout Newsletter: Bristol, Sangamo, Gilead, and more

Why scientists need input from humanists on sensitive research

HHS secretary Becerra pressed on Change HealthCare cyberattack

Readout LOUD podcast: Vertex data, Aduhelm, & Woodcock retires

As AI in medicine takes off, can 'human in the loop' prevent harm?

Do digital therapeutics have a future in medicine?

focus

explore

focus

At least 13 dead in Texas as scorching temps continue

In boost for rare disease push, AstraZeneca to buy Amolyt Pharma

Over 800 arrested across France in 3rd night of riots after fatal police shooting of teen

Readout Newsletter: Vertex, Biogen's Aduhelm, and Bristol updates

Medical leaders decry Supreme Court decision on affirmative action

How many hemophilia patients actually want gene therapy?

Bright Health sells Medicare Advantage business to Molina

Change Healthcare outage fallout shows need for new oversight

The Supreme Court will review a ruling striking down a domestic violence federal gun ban

Readout Newsletter: Vertex, Biogen's Aduhelm, and Bristol updates

Wikipedia

RaDonda Vaught links Vanderbilt hospital issues to patient death

Some dementia cases could be undiagnosed liver disease

The real point of Kenneth Smith’s execution by nitrogen gas

ARCH Venture Partners is raising $3 billion for a life sciences fund

Ebola: Gilead Sciences antiviral shows promise as new treatment

First U.S. drug developed to treat liver disease MASH is approved

entertainment

hotspot

hotspot

focus