Some recent updates from the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists of interest to people with colon and rectal cancer:

• Fluorouracil (5-FU) as of 8/31/11: On back order from Teva, APP Pharmaceuticals, and Mylan Institutional.  Manufacturing delays at Teva appear to have caused increased demand from other companies.
• Leucovorin as of 8/31/11:   Bedford has some powderized sizes available and limited allocations of others.  Teva is importing folinic acid solution and it is available for drop shipment, but powdered leucovorin is on back order. APP is releasing powderized leucovorin as it becomes available.
• Irinotecan as of 8/26/11:  Teva and Sandoz have back orders of some doses because of manufacturing problems.  Hospira shortages are due to increased demand.  Some dosage vials are available from APP and as Camptosar from Pfizer.  Three generic manufacturers stopped making irinotecan in 2010 and another one did so in May 2011.
• Fusilev as of 6/21/11:  Although it was in shortage previously, Spectrum has announced that they have ample supplies currently and for the future.  ASHP reminds physicians and pharmacists that dosing errors can occur when substituting Fusilev (levoleucovorin) for leucovorin.

Check the links to ASHP updated sites for more detailed information about which sizes are available, reasons given for shortages, and when shortages are expected to be resolved.

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Email your Members of Congress in support of legislation that would combat future drug shortages. We make it easy in our online action center.

Join Fight Colorectal Cancer March 5 – 7, 2012 in Washington, DC

Registration is now open!

Fight Colorectal Cancer held its August 2011 webinar on Wednesday night. The webinar focused on the timely issue of cancer funding and ways that advocates can get involved in the fight to protect it.

Led by David Pugach of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the audience learned about the current state of cancer research funding and its outlook based on the budget crunch that Congress is facing.

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Earlier this month, the House Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education Appropriations Subcommittee announced that it has postponed consideration of its fiscal year (FY) 2012 spending bill until September.

Delayed consideration of this bill, which funds the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), gives colorectal cancer advocates more time to contact their House and Senate lawmakers when they return home in August.

The message: Funding for colorectal cancer research and prevention must be a priority.

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This afternoon, by a vote of 336-87, the House passed the Fiscal Year 2012 Department of Defense Appropriations bill (H.R. 2219). The bill includes funding for critical national security needs while also providing essential funding for health and quality of life programs for the men and women of the Armed Services and their families.

The final bill includes more than $223 million for cancer research, including $12.8 million for the Department of Defense’s Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) that funds colorectal cancer research.

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