Patients are telling C3 that they are being turned away from scheduled cancer treatment because of a new shortage of leucovorin, a drug that is commonly used in colon and rectal cancer treatment.  However, good news is on the way.

TEVA Pharmaceuticals has told the Food and Drug Administration that they are shipping back orders of leucovorin now and that the drug should be in oncology clinics and doctor’s offices next week.

The FDA has put leucovorin on its drugs shortages list, citing manufacturing delays as the reason.   The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (AHSP) has additional details on the shortage. Read the rest of this entry »

This week a panda gets a colonoscopy, details are reported on swine flu cases, and information about acrylamide in food and cancer risk is reviewed.  The FDA says that the leucovorin shortage has been resolved and supplies are available.

We also found a study that used stereotactic body radiosurgery (SBRS) for tumors from cancer that had spread to the spine.  In other research, the number of lymph nodes recovered during colon and rectal surgery depends on the patient’s age, where the cancer was located, and how long the removed specimen was. Read the rest of this entry »

The Food and Drug Administration has updated information on the shortage of leucovorin as of January 21, 2009.

• Teva Parenteral Medicines reports a shortage of Leucovorin Calcium Lyophilized Powder for Injection due to “Increase in Demand”.
• Bedford Laboratories reports a shortage of Leucovorin Calcium Solution for Injection and Leucovorin Calcium Lyophilized Powder for Injection due to “Manufacturing Delays.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Boehringer Ingelheim, parent company of Bedford Laboratories, reports that Bedford is shipping some leucovorin, but that improvements in its manufacturing facilities will cause some short-term interruptions.

In a statement, Boehringer Ingleheim says that five lots of intravenous leucovorin were released between late November and mid-December, providing about 175,000 vials.  Another two lots are expect to be shipped before the end of 2008 containing another 167,000 vials.

According to the statement,

Bedford Laboratories will continue to work with the FDA drug shortage staff to provide updates on leucovorin.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Food and Drug Administration is reporting shortages of leucovorin calcium, used to enhance the effectiveness of 5-FU (fluorouracil) in treating colorectal cancer.  The reason the FDA gives for the shortage is “Manufacturing Delays.” Leucovorin is supplied by Teva Pharmaceuticals and Bedford Laboratories, and the FDA directs consumers to contact them for more information.

According to a bulletin from the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP), “Leucovorin calcium lyophilized powder is on back order and the company cannot estimate a release date.” In addition, ASHP has been told, “The manufacturers will not provide a reason for the shortage.” ASHP updated their information with personal communications with the manufacturers on December 8, 2008.

Calls from to the FDA, Teva, and Bedford from patient advocates on December 12 provided no new information about what was causing the problem or when it might be resolved.

The shortage not only affects thousands of colon and rectal cancer patients who are being treated with 5-FU and leucovorin, it impacts over one hundred clinical trials in the United States where leucovorin is part of treatment protocols.  Read the rest of this entry »