US estrogen supply crunch widens as women seek alternatives to scarce patches
XLV•Shortages have spread from estrogen patches to some injectable and vaginal products as women switch treatments and demand rises. Cost Plus Drugs said demand for estrogen products had jumped fivefold to tenfold, while Viatris added a production shift and plans another production line.
1. Shortages spread
US pharmacies and drug-shortage monitors are reporting supply problems with some estrogen injections and vaginal creams in addition to patches. The FDA has been working with manufacturers since September to increase patch supplies, which nearly doubled over the previous year but still had not kept up with demand.
2. Demand and supply
CVS Health said manufacturers had struggled for several months to supply certain strengths of estradiol injections, with the situation worsening in recent weeks. A telehealth provider said patients switching from patches to gels and creams had contributed to further supply pressure. Cost Plus Drugs said demand for products sold through its platform had surged fivefold to tenfold "for almost every product" and that suppliers were expanding capacity.
3. Manufacturers respond
Viatris said it added a production shift at its St. Albans, Vermont, facility earlier this year, bringing the plant to around-the-clock production. It said it was meeting current supply plans for estradiol vaginal cream and investing in equipment for an additional production line. Amneal said it was working to increase production. A pharmaceutical consultant said the pattern did not appear to point to a broad lack of raw materials, while cautioning that supply-chain problems could still contribute.
