The American Medical Association (AMA) has announced a new policy aimed at addressing the ongoing drug supply shortages affecting the nation. The shortages have been exacerbated by advertising practices, particularly for on-patent drugs like semaglutide and other glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, which have seen increased demand due to social media promotion despite their scarcity.
These shortages have raised concerns about counterfeit products entering the market as pharmacies struggle to meet patient needs. Compounding pharmacies have also been found developing versions of semaglutide with different active ingredients that lack evaluation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In response, the AMA's policy urges oversight entities such as the FDA and Federal Trade Commission to scrutinize how compounding pharmacies advertise drugs currently in shortage.
"Drug shortages in the U.S. continue to frustrate physicians and are increasingly jeopardizing patient safety and the quality of health care patients receive," said AMA Board Member Alexander Ding, M.D., M.S., M.B.A. He added that deceptive marketing practices are contributing to prolonged shortages, making it difficult for patients with valid prescriptions to obtain necessary medications.
Statistics from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists indicate that drug shortages have worsened over the past year, with 48 new drug shortages reported in the first quarter of 2024 alone. The most affected classes include central nervous system therapies, antimicrobials, hormones, chemotherapies, and fluids/electrolytes.
The newly adopted policy was informed by a Council on Science and Public Health report that examined controlled substances, generic drugs, and on-patent drugs facing shortages. It opposes laws or business practices creating artificial drug shortages that limit patient access to medications.
To alleviate these issues, the policy suggests incentives like prioritized regulatory review and direct grant opportunities for manufacturers investing in manufacturing processes. It also calls for economic incentives to build climate resilience into facilities and increase emergency stockpiles of key products.
The AMA aims to work with other stakeholders to implement solutions addressing this public health issue as part of its ongoing efforts against drug supply challenges.
