As if a mesothelioma diagnosis isn’t stressful enough, patients diagnosed with the rare and fatal asbestos-related disease continue to face chemotherapy drug shortages. The shortage has been an issue since 2023, and a newly released survey shows things have only gotten worse. The questionnaire was sent to members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), and each facility that responded reported ongoing drug shortages, including those needed to treat mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma Treatment Still Threatened by Platinum Drug Shortages
Though several different treatments are used to treat mesothelioma, chemotherapy has been the standard regimen for years. Oncologists typically pair the drug Alimta with one of two platinum-based drugs: while cisplatin is usually used, carboplatin often serves as the backup option when supplies run short. The new survey found that 71% of responding cancer centers reported shortages of carboplatin and 16% reported shortages of cisplatin. This means disruptions to both the primary and backup components of mesothelioma treatment.
Physicians treating mesothelioma patients had hoped that 2023’s shortages would be temporary, but according to NCCN’s chief medical officer, Dr. Renuka Iyer, only 4% of pharmacy directors surveyed said conditions had improved, while the rest reported no change at all. Mesothelioma treatment planning has suffered as a result: of 29 centers that answered related questions, five reported actual treatment delays, often because switching drugs requires new prior authorization requests, new informed consent paperwork, and rescheduled infusion appointments.
Mesothelioma Community Watches for Systemic Fixes
The shortage’s impacts are being felt beyond the community of mesothelioma patients: cancer patients across the country all depend on these drugs, and experts say that the supply chain for oncology drugs is extremely fragile. The drug manufacturers generally see small profits, and sterile injectable generics that are manufactured overseas are vulnerable to weather and geopolitical disruption.
Cancer centers like Moffitt in Tampa report having cut their shortage exposure through proactive inventory forecasting and diversified purchasing. The FDA has also temporarily eased import restrictions on some important drugs, while NCCN and other oncology organizations have formed the End Cancer Drug Shortages Coalition. The groups are calling for greater supply-chain transparency, stronger manufacturer incentives, and a stabilized generic drug market.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net are here to help you navigate its challenges. For more information, contact us at 1-800-692-8608.
