Drug Shortages

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.

Understand the issue: Long-standing drug shortages persist in 2024 

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. 

Key drivers of shortages:

Low prices
Low prices

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.

Manufacturing complexity
Manufacturing complexity

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. 

Geographic concentration
Geographic concentration

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%).

Quality concerns
Quality concerns

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 the facts about drug shortages

 

USP 2024 Drug Shortages Report

Drug shortages trends at a glance 

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.

 
 
 
 
 

USP Resources and solutions

cancer drug shortages

Survivor Views: One in ten impacted by recent drug shortages.

cancer drugs in shortage

National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Best Practices Committee: Drug shortage follow-up survey results.

drug shortages for cancer medicines

Why cancer medicines are and continue to be vulnerable to drug shortages.

upstream drug supply chain

Identifying and addressing vulnerabilities in the upstream medicines supply chain to build resilience and reduce drug shortages.

medicine bottles

Drug shortages: Landscape assessment of policy proposals to prevent and mitigate drug shortages.

drug pricing

Drug shortages in the U.S. 2023: A closer look at volume and price dynamics.

The leading cause of drug shortages is manufacturing quality

Duke Margolis Center for Health Policy: Advancing federal coordination to address drug shortages.

single capsule

Drug shortages: Causes and solutions.

pharmacy drug shortage

Drug Shortage Task Force Letter to Congression Leadership on July 26, 2024 and Drug Shortage Task Force

patient access to essential medicines

Comments to Senate Finance Committee on June 6, 2024