The COVID-19 pandemic caused the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to flex regulations and priorities to prevent drug shortages, expediting more than 100 original abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) and 150 ANDA supplements for COVID-related products, according to the FDA's "Drug Shortages for Calendar Year 2020" report, released late last month.Fewer new shortages, more ongoing onesThe agency reported 43 new shortages but prevented 199, compared with 2019's 51 new shortages and 154 prevented shortages.
On the other hand, 2020 had 86 ongoing shortages, compared with 76 in 2019."This increase of ongoing shortages at the close of CY 2020 as compared to the close of previous calendar years is due to the previously discussed closures