Persistent drug shortages continue to affect patients, hospitals, and public health. USP brings together data, analysis, and expert insights to help stakeholders understand the structural, economic, and quality-related factors behind the disruptions.
The 2024 USP Annual Drug Shortages Report highlights persistent shortages and their systemic causes. More than 40 life-saving drugs have been in shortage for over three years.
Drugs with low prices paid to manufacturers face a higher risk of shortage. In 2023, product discontinuation rose by 40%, from 100 in 2022 to 140 in 2023, as tight margins drove manufacturers out of the market.
Drugs with higher manufacturing complexity are more vulnerable to shortage. Complexity can include therapeutic classes that need dedicated facilities, or active ingredients that require complex chemical synthesis.
Drugs in which the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and/or finished dose are manufactured in a single or a few locations are more susceptible to shortages. Among drugs newly in short supply, the U.S. produces almost half of all the total volume for solid orals (43%) and sterile injectables (49%).
Facilities where drugs in shortage are made are more likely to have had inspection issues. Poor inspection results can provide a warning signal about the potential location of future problems.
Get USP's latest data on persistent drug shortages and supply chain risk. Request your free copy of USP's 2024 Drug Shortage Report.
Explore data-driven snapshots from the USP Medicine supply Map, a platform designed to identify where medicines face the most significant supply risk. These visualizations highlight trends in product pricing, manufacturing complexity, and geographic sourcing that contribute to persistent drug shortages, supporting informed decisions across healthcare, policy, and procurement.
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