Avastin: The appearance of a counterfeit version of the injectable drug bevacizumab (Avastin) in the USA has been extensively reported in the media. The drug is used in the treatment of brain tumours, among other cancers. Genentech, the US manufacturer, issued a media statement which is available here. More detailed background about the episode was contained in a statement from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, which is available here.

Drug shortages: The problem of shortages of some drugs used in cancer treatments - including methotrexate which is used to treat primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSL) - is a continuing problem in the USA and worldwide. The American Society of Hematology and ASCO have both been applying pressure. Apparently, a significant cause in the case of methotrexate was the closure last year of Ben Venue Laboratories which is one of the four US makers. In Australia supplies of Doxil (known locally as Caelyx) used to treat breast and ovarian cancers, have just about disappeared due to the US manufacturer suspending its production.

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Šaltinis: www.theibta.org