PEORIA, Ill. – Senator Dick Durbin says the government has responded appropriately, for now, to a problem he says has been brewing since before the recent spate of supply chain disruptions.
Durbin met Tuesday with Carle Health officials at Methodist Hospital in Peoria to discuss, in part, concerns over a shortage of specific types of cancer treatment drugs.
The Springfield Democrat says he’s sought help from the Food and Drug Administration.
“Shortly after sending this letter, the FDA responded and announced it would allow for the importation of an injectable version of cisplatin from overseas,” said Durbin. “I’m grateful the FDA has taken this first step. It may save some lives.”
The problem is a real one for Dr. Keith Knepp, president of Carle Health Greater Peoria.
“Our own pharmacy team made me aware today of a patient in our care who’s in need of a generic life-saving cancer drug,” said Knepp. “We are working hard to ensure we have that supply, but it’s taking an all-out effort to make that happen.”
Knepp, who says usually if there’s a shortage, he can contact another hospital in the system and get what he needs. He says it is possible, though, to call outside the system if necessary.
In addition to cisplatin, a drug called carboplatin is also in short supply.
Durbin says one problem may be that in some cases, one big company makes a particular brand of drug, then charges a lot of money for it, versus generics, where little to no money is made.
“Our work to strengthen our federal drug stockpile, enhance FDA’s visibility into pharmaceutical supply chains, and boost our domestic manufacturing” are things Durbin says are needed. “That’s just a start.”
On another note, Durbin met with FBI Director Christopher Wray at the FBI Springfield headquarters Tuesday, prior to his trip to Peoria. Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria, according to FBI photos distributed to the media, also met with Wray, among other officials.
