Some drugs are in short supply and may be scarce for up to three years, according to industry analysts.

“The most impacted drug categories include chemotherapy agents, central nervous system stimulants, antimicrobials, hormone therapies, and intravenous (IV) fluids. Additionally, some weight-loss medications have also experienced shortages,” says maxor.com, the website for Maxor National Pharmacy Services.

It said the shortage as of September 2024 was 277 drugs. By comparison, in the first quarter of 2024 the shortage was 323, the highest figure since 2014.

Shortages have always been a fluctuating problem, with some lasting up to two years. But the issue may become more prevalent for a variety of reasons.

Shortages are most likely to be in generic pharmaceuticals, which could affect many New Yorkers. The shortages often mean patients pay more for other medications or make medically unwise decisions to skip or reduce treatment.

Why generics?

Manufacturers of generic drugs generally have a smaller profit margin than companies producing name-brand drugs. So any bump in the road can cost them money and even prompt them to leave the field, which only adds to the shortage.

Many shortages involve manufacturing and quality problems, changes in government rules, supply chain problems, delays and discontinuations.

Weather causes trouble, too. A 2023 tornado damaged a pharmaceutical plant in North Carolina; in 2024 Hurricane Helene temporarily closed a facility that produced 60 percent of the nation’s IV fluids.

Maxor.com noted the impact on generic drugs:

“Generic drugs are disproportionately affected by shortages due to their low prices, which discourage investments in redundancy or resilience-oriented manufacturing.

Growing demand is another factor.

“ADHD medications such as Adderall®, Ritalin®, Vyvanse®, and Focalin™ have faced persistent shortages since October 2022. These shortages result from increased diagnoses of ADHD and DEA-imposed production quotas.”

Other shortages involve carboplatin and cisplatin, vital for treating breast and other cancers; hormonal therapies for menopause; albuterol, used for COPD; and dronabinol, which manages chemotherapy-induced nausea.

Tariffs a concern

Rising tariffs could hurt the supply of pharmaceuticals, especially generics.

“Generic drug companies have more complicated supply chains and source a lot of their ingredients outside the U.S., in particular India and China,” said Milena Sullivan, the senior vice president and head of healthcare policy practice at Avalere Health.

In an interview with www.pharmacypracticenews.com, Sullivan said manufacturers are dealing with fallout from the pandemic and pricing pressures among other things.

“(M)any manufacturers were forced to leave the market and left the supply focused on a smaller subset of companies. Adding tariffs on top of that will certainly further exacerbate the situation,” she said in Pharmacy Practice News.

Drug list

Here’s a list of drug shortages compiled by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the largest association of pharmacy professionals in the United States.

www.ashp.org/drug-shortages/current-shortages/drug-shortages-list?page=CurrentShortages

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