The FDA is allowing 10 more lots of cisplatin from a China-based pharmaceutical company to be imported to the U.S. to ease the ongoing cancer drug shortage, Bloomberg reported July 10. The additional lots are set to arrive next week.
In June, federal regulators cleared four lots of cisplatin from Qilu Pharmaceutical. While the version of the drug is unapproved in the U.S., it is similar to the approved version distributed across the country.
"We will continue the importation until manufacturers can meet all needs," Chanapa Tantibanchachai, an FDA spokesperson, told Bloomberg.
Shortages of the essential cancer drug began in February and have caused some cancer centers to ration cisplatin and carboplatin, another cancer drug in shortage, treatments for patients. More recently, there have been signs of supplies stabilizing. Data from Premier cited by Bloomberg shows shipments of cisplatin rebounded in May after dropping at the beginning of the year. Officials from several cancer centers also told the news outlet supplies have improved to levels where patient care is not disrupted.