Sen. Ossoff, members of Georgia’s Congressional Delegation request update from FDA on national shortage of chemotherapy medicines
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is launching a bipartisan inquiry into the shortages of chemotherapy drugs in Georgia and nationwide.
Today, Sen. Ossoff led a bipartisan, bicameral group of Georgia’s Congressional Delegation requesting an update from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the shortage of drugs needed to treat cancer patients.
Sen. Ossoff is joined by Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock and Representatives Nikema Williams (GA-05), Lucy McBath (GA-07), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), and Dr. Rich McCormick (GA-06).
“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,” Sen. Ossoff and the group 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.”
Sen. Ossoff and the group 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.
Click here to read the bipartisan inquiry.
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