There were 125 drug shortages by the end of 2023.
Drug shortages are the highest in a decade, with 2023 topping the charts, according to United States Pharmacopeia’s first annual Drug Shortage Report (USP).
“The number of drug shortages has increased over a decade, with 125 active drug shortages monitored by FDA at the end of 2023. … This high number of shortages is a direct result of persistent market vulnerabilities,” the report authors wrote. “According to our analysis, over a quarter of drugs in shortage were new drug shortages (34 products) in 2023.”
USP is a nonprofit organization that sets quality standards for medication, dietary supplements, and food ingredients worldwide.
The report, published in early June, notes that the average drug shortage lasts more than three years and affects multiple types of drugs. Almost 25 percent of those drugs have been on shortage lists for over five years, and six drugs, including epinephrine injections, have been in short supply for a decade. Injectable generic medications have been hit hardest, comprising more than 53 percent of new drug shortages.
These drug shortages indicate vulnerability in the market and affect patient care.
“Unexpected shocks can break the system and disrupt the supply of quality medicines,” Anthony Lakavage, senior vice president for Global External Affairs at USP, said in a news release. “This worrisome trajectory leads to more frequent drug shortages, prolonged scarcity, and more people at risk of not getting the medicines they need, when they need them.”
What’s Causing the Shortage?
The report states that fundamental supply and demand are likely to blame for the drug shortages but adds that the problem in the United States is exacerbated by manufacturing complexity (e.g., sterile injectables). For instance, drug classes like antibiotics need dedicated facilities, and some active ingredients require complicated chemical synthesis.
Some of the other reasons for the shortages include:
By Amie Dahnke
