The United States Pharmacopeia, an independent, science-based nonprofit, released its first annual Drug Shortage Report (USP) showing that drug shortages are currently at the highest level in a decade with 2023 marking the worst year yet.
Over the past 10 years, the number of drug shortages has increased dramatically, the report explains, with 125 active drug shortages monitored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at the end of 2023.
“This high number of shortages is a direct result of persistent market vulnerabilities,” the report states. “According to our analysis, over a quarter of drugs in shortage were new drug shortages (34 products) in 2023.”
Published in early June, the report explains that the average drug shortage lasts more than three years and impacts multiple types of drugs. One in four drug shortages lasted more than five years while six drugs, including…
