Platinum Chemo Shortage Led to Reduced Use, No Change in Mortality
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Dec. 30, 2024 -- The platinum chemotherapy shortage, first announced on Feb. 10, 2023, resulted in a modest absolute reduction in platinum use, but no difference in mortality, according to a study published online Dec. 3 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Jacob B. Reibel, M.D., from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and colleagues quantified the extent to which the shortage of cisplatin and carboplatin affected prescribing of platinum chemotherapy and short-term mortality. A total of 11,797 adults with advanced solid cancers who initiated first-line therapy during the one-year period before (Feb. 1, 2022, to Feb. 9, 2023) or during (Feb. 10, 2023, to Jan. 31, 2024) the shortage were included in the cohort study.
The researchers observed a 2.7 percent absolute reduction in platinum use during the shortage compared with the previous year. Compared with one year prior, there was a 15.1 percent absolute reduction in platinum prescribing seen during the peak of the shortage (57.8 and 72.9 percent in June 2023 and June 2022, respectively). With a median follow-up of 7.6 months, no difference was seen in mortality before versus during the shortage.
"Understanding the role of mitigation strategies, such as waste minimization (i.e., dose rounding), selection of alternative treatment regimens proposed by oncologic societies, and importation efforts by regulators will offer important policy insight for future chemotherapy shortage crises," the authors write.
Several authors disclosed ties to pharmaceutical and health technology companies, including Flatiron Health, which owns the data that support the findings of this study.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted December 2024
Read this next
ENDO: Sweeteners, Genetic Predisposition Independently Linked to Early Puberty
TUESDAY, July 15, 2025 -- Sweetener consumption and genetic predisposition are independently associated with the risk for central precocious puberty (CPP), according to a study...
Diagnostic Model Based on Delayed Post-Gadolinium Enhancement MRI Accurate for Meniere Disease
TUESDAY, July 15, 2025 -- A diagnostic model based on delayed post-gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DEMRI) improves the accuracy of Meniere disease (MD)...
Atopic Dermatitis May Be Linked to Increased Risk for CKD
TUESDAY, July 15, 2025 -- Atopic dermatitis (AD) was associated with an increased risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in an Asian population, according to a study published...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.