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FDA takes action on drug shortages

FDA working to prevent and resolve drug shortages. U.S. President Barack Obama signs an Executive Order directing the Food and Drug Administration to take action to help prevent and reduce prescription drug shortages and protect consumers and from price gouging, at the White House on October 31, 2011. The President was joined by (L-R) Bonnie Frawley, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, Jay Cuetara and FDA Commissioner Peggy Hamburg. UPI/Kristoffer Tripplaar/Pool
FDA working to prevent and resolve drug shortages. U.S. President Barack Obama signs an Executive Order directing the Food and Drug Administration to take action to help prevent and reduce prescription drug shortages and protect consumers and from price gouging, at the White House on October 31, 2011. The President was joined by (L-R) Bonnie Frawley, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, Jay Cuetara and FDA Commissioner Peggy Hamburg. UPI/Kristoffer Tripplaar/Pool | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it is taking two actions to further enhance the agency's ongoing efforts to prevent and resolve drug shortages.

Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said drug shortages are a significant public health threat that can delay, and in some cases even deny, critical care to patients.

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Following the president's 2011 Executive Order on reducing drug shortages, the number of new shortages in 2012 was 117, down from 251 in 2011, Woodcock said.

Today's announcements build on this work. First, the FDA is releasing a strategic plan called for in the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act of 2012 to improve the agency's response to imminent or existing shortages, and for longer term approaches for addressing the underlying causes of drug shortages.

The plan also highlights opportunities for drug manufacturers and others to prevent drug shortages by promoting and sustaining quality manufacturing.

Second, the FDA issued a proposed rule requiring all manufacturers of certain medically important prescription drugs to notify the FDA of a permanent discontinuance or a temporary interruption of manufacturing likely to disrupt their supply.

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The rule also extends this requirement to manufacturers of medically important biologic products.

"The complex issue of drug shortages continues to be a high priority for the FDA, and early notification is a critical tool that helps mitigate or prevent looming shortages," Woodcock said in a statement. "The FDA continues to take all steps it can within its authority, but the FDA alone cannot solve shortages. Success depends upon a commitment from all stakeholders."

Early notification gives the FDA time to: work with manufacturers to investigate the issue leading to the manufacturing disruption, identify other manufacturers who can make up all or part of the shortfall, and

expedite inspections and reviews of submissions from manufacturers of drugs that may prevent or mitigate a shortage.

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