Concern grows over shortage of life-saving children's cancer treatment drug

BOSTON — Doctors around the world say they are concerned over a world-wide shortage of a popular life-saving drug used to treat cancer in children.

The shortage, which has some hospitals in the United States rationing out supplies, poses an enormous challenge to hospitals like Massachusetts General Hospital.

Vincristine is the backbone treatment for many illnesses, including leukemia and brain tumors. MGH officials say they haven't seen the effects of the shortage yet, but are preparing in case they do.

"Pharmaceutical companies don't have as much of an incentive to continue to supply them because their profit margin is very small," said MGH Pediatric Oncologist David Ebb.

Dr. Ebb said doctors first started hearing about the possibility of a shortage on the drug back in July when one of the only two manufacturers left producing the drug announced they'd be stopping production.

While the profit of margin for pharmaceutical companies is small, the life expectancy for patients treated with Vincristine is very high.

"It's one of the most widely used drugs," said Dr. Ebb. "Doing without it is going to prove to be a very difficult challenge if there's going to be an inadequate supply."

According to Dr. Ebb, smaller hospitals across the country are having to prioritize usage and dosage of Vincristine for patients who need it. MGH says they are prepared to do the same if necessary.

"I think there are many institutions, many centers, many communities, many families ultimately that are feeling appropriately very concerned about the availability of drugs that are required for life-saving treatments," said Dr. Ebb.

A petition on WhiteHouse.gov is calling on Congress to take action on the shortage. Currently, the petition has over 90,000 signatures and needs just under 7,500 more by Nov. 15 in order to get a response.

Dr. Ebb says that the low profit margin for popular drugs could drive more pharmaceutical companies to stop producing popular, life-saving medicine and that it might be time for the government to step in and do something about it.

"[We might] need legislative intervention to mandate that before someone withdraws from the production of a drug that is a mainstay of cancer therapy that the FDA has an opportunity to stockpile those drugs and find a supplier and producer of those medications," said Dr. Ebb.

Boston 25 News has reached out to Boston Children's Hospital who say they have not seen the effects of the shortage.

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Cox Media Group