As we see it: Drug Shortages Impede Cancer Research

William Faloon

The United States faces shortages of certain generic drugs, and this has been going on for decades. These shortages often affect drugs used to treat common malignancies.

Cancer patients need precisely timed administration of optimal medications if they are to have a chance for a partial or complete response.

Despite these drugs being off patent for decades, there have been ongoing shortages¹ that compromise or delay treatments, leading to medication errors and adverse patient outcomes.^2,3

According to the American Medical Association Journal of Ethics, hospitals and healthcare providers are forced to make difficult decisions about rationing multiple classes of drugs.⁴

These shortages are attributable to several factors, including manufacturing issues, quality control, market consolidation, and supply chain disruptions.^2,5 The underlying reason, however, revolves around excess regulation that stifles competition and causes certain generic drugs to be overpriced and in short supply.^6,7

We exposed an egregious example of price gouging on the cover of our September 2014 issue whereby an off-patent topical cream (acyclovir) whose active ingredient cost 8 pennies was selling in American pharmacies for around $600.⁸

You might wonder why competitors did not make a lower priced acyclovir cream. One reason is expensive barriers to entry for companies that need FDA approval for generic drugs. It costs $1 million-$3 million or more for the FDA to approve a generic drug.⁹

Acyclovir is used to treat herpes lesions. It reduces pain severity, slightly shortens recovery time, and reduces risk of transmission.^10,11 The price of acyclovir ointment has come down to around $19 today, but this should have happened decades ago.¹²

The solution we’ve long advocated is a two-pronged option whereby consumers, doctors, and hospitals can choose between “FDA certified” or “free market” pharmaceuticals.

Safety could be monitored by independent testing labs that would put their seal of approval on prescription drugs that are made properly, analogous to how Underwriters Labs certifies the safety of electrical equipment.

As you’ll read in the Drug Shortages article of this month’s issue, drug shortages not only impact American patients today, but also torpedo clinical cancer research.

September 2014 cover of Life Extension Magazine that revealed cost per tube of the active ingredient in a generic anti-herpes cream (acyclovir) was only 8 pennies but was selling for $600 in the U.S.⁸

The big expenses are the regulatory costs.

For longer life,

William Faloon, Co-Founder, Life Extension®

References

1. Available at: https://www.ashp.org/drug-shortages/shortage-resources/drug-shortages-statistics?loginreturnUrl=SSOCheckOnly. Accessed April 29, 2025.
2. Available at: https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/oncology-drug-shortages. Accessed April 29, 2025.
3. Available at: https://www.ashp.org/drug-shortages/current-shortages?loginreturnUrl=SSOCheckOnly. Accessed April 29, 2025.
4. Fox ER, Wynia MK. How Should Critical Medications Be Rationed During Shortages? AMA J Ethics. 2024 Apr 1;26(4):E334-40.
5. Available at: https://www.healthday.com/health-news/general-health/us-medical-drug-shortages-reach-record-high. Accessed April 29, 2025.
6. Shukar S, Zahoor F, Hayat K, et al. Drug Shortage: Causes, Impact, and Mitigation Strategies. Front Pharmacol. 2021;12:693426.
7. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-shortages/frequently-asked-questions-about-drug-shortages. Accessed May 1, 2025.
8. Available at: https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2014/9/how-to-turn-8-pennies-into-$600. Accessed April 29, 2025.
9. Available at: https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-16896.pdf?1722343539. Accessed May 1, 2025.
10. Available at: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/acyclovir-an-overview. Accessed May 1, 2025.
11. Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a681045.html. Accessed May 13, 2025.
12. Available at: https://www.goodrx.com/acyclovir. Accessed April 28, 2025.