Over the last months, a worrying shortage in the production and distribution of vincristine has affected the health marketplace across the world. Vincristine is an antineoplastic drug, a natural extract from the periwinkle (Cantharanthus roseus, formerly Vinca rosea), which is a species of myrtle. Vincristine is an antitumor drug hugely used in the care of several types of paediatric cancers and in particular the acute lymphocytic leukemia in children as well as some forms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. At the beginning of October 2019, several difficulties to obtain vincristine by the patients both in USA and in Europe were registered and Pfizer/Hospira, the most supplier of vincristine in USA, was experiencing a shortage of drug due to a manufacturing delay.
In November 2019, Teva Pharmaceuticals announced that it will resume the production of childhood cancer drug vincristine. This company came under intense pressure for the “business decision” to cease vincristine production, claiming its product only made up 3% of market share, with Pfizer producing the remainder.
Of course, patients are going to benefit, but the decision to make the drug again will not make any short-term impact on the ongoing shortage with the announcement from Teva stating that production will resume “as early in 2020 as possible,” without specifying a date.
Alike to USA, where Patients’ Organisations, childhood cancer experts community and FDA have joined the forces to face the shortage issues and highlight the necessity to find a solution, also in Europe the collaboration with EMA and the National Competent Authority should be promoted. The advocacy efforts could represent a key factor to sensitize the authorities and companies on this emergency and led them to discuss additional steps and solutions such as the importation of vincristine from other countries, that could be considered for patients currently being impacted.
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