House Dems press drug companies on nationwide shortages
House Oversight Democrats are pressing pharmaceutical companies on the nationwide shortages of a number of drugs in a new investigation announced Wednesday.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the ranking member of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, led the group of Democrats in sending letters to the leaders of Pfizer, Sandoz and Teva Pharmaceuticals about the nationwide shortages affecting certain cancer drugs, the antibiotic amoxicillin and stimulant medications, including Adderall.
The lawmakers are asking the companies for a briefing and more information, including about how they are planning to respond to the shortages, by March 6.
In a letter to Pfizer, the lawmakers demanded more information on carboplatin, cisplatin and methotrexate, three generic drugs that are used to treat cancer. The lawmakers said Pfizer and its subsidiaries are major manufacturers of those cancer drugs and claimed there have been reports of “price gouging” amid the shortages.
“The current oncology drug shortage affects the clinical decision-making process, patient outcomes, and quality of life, and without crucial oncology drugs, cancer patients face severe gaps in their treatments and an increased risk of severe, life-threatening complications,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter to Pfizer.
Pfizer confirmed to The Hill that it received the letter but declined to further comment on the investigation.
The House Oversight Democrats said Sandoz is one of the top manufacturers of powder amoxicillin — which has faced shortages for more than a year.
“Parents, pediatricians, and children depend on amoxicillin to treat a variety of childhood illnesses, from the routine to life-threatening, and antibiotics like amoxicillin are 42% more likely to experience shortages than other prescription medications,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter to Sandoz.
When reached for comment on the letter, a spokesperson for Sandoz said they “look forward to briefing committee members on the work Sandoz has done to address shortages of amoxicillin, as we have a very strong story to tell.”
The lawmakers noted that Teva Pharmaceuticals is one of the leading manufacturers of Adderall, which has faced shortages since October 2022, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Students in particular have faced long-term problems as they struggle to fill their Adderall prescriptions.
“Our constituents share story after story detailing how hard it is to fill prescriptions for Adderall and that the shortage affects every element of their lives,” lawmakers wrote in the letter to Teva.
“For example, previously capable students are now barely able to get passing grades, and adults are forced to contact every local pharmacy in an attempt to obtain a medication that may be the difference between being productive and focused in the workplace or losing their livelihoods,” they added.
Other House Democrats have previously voiced their concerns about the Adderall shortage, with a group sending a letter to the FDA last year demanding answers on what is being done to address the shortage. House Republicans also launched an investigation into how the FDA is responding to the drug shortages last year.
The Hill has reached out to Teva for comment.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
