Senator Reverend Warnock previously called for increased transparency from the FDA regarding chemotherapy drug shortages
Senators Reverend Warnock, Ossoff: “We have continued to hear from patients and providers about how shortages of chemotherapy drugs present a significant challenge for Georgians. Many have had to consider alternative treatment programs or delay treatment”
ICYMI from the AJC: Cancer drug shortage prompts Georgia lawmakers to raise issue with FDA
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) pushed for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to answer questions regarding the ongoing shortage of drugs needed to treat cancer patients. The senators were joined in their follow-up to the FDA on this issue by severalmembers of Georgia’s congressional delegation, including U.S. Representatives Nikema Williams (GA-D-5th), Lucy McBath (GA-D-7th), Hank Johnson (GA-D-4th), and Dr. Rich McCormick (GA-R-6th).
This latest push comes after Senator Warnock led nine members of Georgia’s congressional delegation in a bipartisan August 2023 letter pressuring the FDA to increase transparency around their efforts to address chemotherapy drug shortages.
“We have continued to hear from patients and providers about how shortages of chemotherapy drugs present a significant challenge for Georgians. Many have had to consider alternative treatment programs or delay treatment,” the lawmakers wrote to FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert M. Califf. “Unlike other medications, chemotherapy drugs are not interchangeable; many are only effective for specific cancers, and using alternative chemotherapy drugs can substantially reduce the success of the treatment. This shortage has placed a burden on both physicians and caregivers and has put the health of patients at risk.”
The lawmakers requested specific information about what the FDA is doing to reduce the shortage and how they are evaluating the safety of any imported chemotherapy drugs. Several chemo drugs remain in short supply, according to CNN. A survey of 29 cancer centers nationwide in September found 86% reported a shortage of at least one type of anti-cancer drug.
Read the bipartisan inquiry below and HERE.
Dear Commissioner Califf:
We write to express our concern about the ongoing national shortage of chemotherapy drugs which is making it harder for cancer patients to receive the treatments they need.
As you know, on August 24, 2023, several members of the Georgia congressional delegation wrote a letter to inquire about (1) the safety of imported chemotherapy drugs, (2) plans to resolve the shortage, and (3) ways that future shortages can be prevented.
Since sending the August 24, 2023, letter, we have continued to hear from patients and providers about how shortages of chemotherapy drugs present a significant challenge for Georgians. Many have had to consider alternative treatment programs or delay treatment. Unlike other medications, chemotherapy drugs are not interchangeable; many are only effective for specific cancers, and using alternative chemotherapy drugs can substantially reduce the success of the treatment. This shortage has placed a burden on both physicians and caregivers and has put the health of patients at risk.
Our primary goal is ensuring that Georgians can safely obtain the chemotherapy medications they need while also guaranteeing the safety of these drugs. Therefore, we respectfully request that you respond promptly to the following questions:
- What is the current status of the chemotherapy drug shortage in the United States?
- What efforts is the FDA undertaking to evaluate the safety of imported drugs from Qilu Pharmaceutical?
- What is the FDA doing to ensure that any chemotherapy drugs imported to the U.S. meet U.S. drug safety standards?
- What measures are the FDA undertaking to ensure that the agency is better equipped to respond to shortages of critical drugs in the future?
We look forward to working with the FDA to ensure that Georgia cancer patients and their doctors have access to the best medications and treatments without concern about the availability and safety of drugs.
Sincerely,