Methotrexate and MS

[Lulu54]

If you are in the US and watch the news or read the papers, you might have caught the latest drug shortage worries about Methotrexate.  This drug is sometimes used in MS, because it will suppress the immune system. I believe it has been used for a number or years and we might even have a person or two who have passed through here who use methotrexate.  It is also prescribed for a number of different neurological problems that cause inflammation.

The shortage news, though, centers on childhood cancers, the most common of which can be successfully treated with methotrexate.  Many hospitals are reporting that they only have enough of this chemo drug to last them for a few more weeks.

What caused this shortage?  The lack of profit that can be made by the manufacturers.  The drug is out of their patent date and is made in a generic form.  The one manufacturer chose to stop making it because they could not make enough money from Methotrexate.

Tonight there are parents all over this country worried about whether their child's cancer will be treated or if they will have to wait until more drugs are made.  


My guess is if you are using methotrexate for MS, you will be at  the bottom of the supply chain for this drug, and you need to talk to your doctor about alternative drugs.  Comparing the treatment of MS  to whether a child will live or not, it probably should be that way.

[kwarendorf]

"What is more important, making money or saving the lives of children! Geez these companies"

The cold hard reality is that drug companies are in business to make money. They are more often than not publicly traded companies. This means their responsibility is to return on investment their share holders.

I am currently beholden to Biogen-Idec, the makers of Tysabri. If the manufacture and sale of Tysabri becomes unprofitable, and they stop making it, I will be pissed off but it won't be Biogen-Idec's fault.

Kyle

[summerluvr]

Doxil is often used in Multiple Myeloma treatment too, and a warning was issued in the fall for oncologists not to prescribe it (though it is pretty easy to take and effective) since there is not enough supply.  The reason is Johnson and Johsnson sold off a production facility who are now private and don't want to make the drug since it is not that profitable (or something like that).  

I did not take it, but the chemo I took called velcade is also supposedly in a shortage.

This seems to be an ongoing problem.

Usually with chemo they like to give two, or three or more drug combinations at the same time. So if one chemo is in shortage you are probably still taking like two other chemo's at the same time.  In my treatment I took 4 different chemos.

[michelleric]

I do know the company is wanting to get this drug out ASAP, and not for the $$ factor, but do get this med out quickly for the children who need it.  

the company has closed its production since November, to address safety issues.  They r working closely with the FDA to resume production.  

believe me they are NOT making money, it is the opposite.

The employees read letters from patients and their families, and have been working day and night to get this med out there.  

Feb.. 16th, a batch did go out to hospitals oncology departments, primarily for children at this point.

They are desperately working as hard as the can to get his drug out and making it sure it is safe for the patients.

Lots of families are relying on this, including mine, as my husband works there.

Michelle

[Lulu54]

I have to make a serious CORRECTION here. I wrote this last night because I had heard a number of reports on tv about this shortage.  This morning's paper had an article on it as well which sent me searching for more information.

The stop of production has to do with the manufacturer's facility being filthy and not kept up to the clean standards necessary for production.  While that may be result of lack of profit for this drug and the company not wanting to keep their facilities free of mold, rust and other contaminants, that is not the primary reason for the shortage.  

This same company was the sole manufacturer of Doxil, a drug used for ovarian and breast cancer - they have stopped production and this drug is no longer available anywhere in the world.

This is my mea culpa - my apologies for being wrong on this one.  I missed the mark and want to be sure that this error is corrected.  

[zoefromsussex]

Hi Lulu,
I was really interested to read this post but I guess for very different reason's to those who rely on the drug to help them. My dad died in 2010 as a direct result of taking Methotrexate to supress his immune system as he suffered such severe psoriasis that it was his only hope of leading a reasobly normal life. The very word strikes fear into me but I still agree that it's disgusting to put lives in jeopardy for the sake of profit margins. I'm sure the people in charge of the companies would soon start producing the drug in abundance if it was their child suffering.
Zoe

[figuerpa]

I think the manufacturer is ridiculous. What is more important, making money or saving the lives of children! Geez these companies, what are they thinking! It made me so angry when I watched this story on the news. It makes me sad to know that for the company it is more important to make money than to save the lives of children with cancer.

You are right that it should be that way. I know that MS is painful and it can be dibilatating but the life of a child is so precious.

Paula