Link to Abstract
Imminent risk of a global shortage of heparin caused by the African Swine Fever afflicting the Chinese pig herd
By no means am I a fear mongering here, but I am legitimately concerned about the inaction of our health care systems to worry about this issue until it was too late. We were warned last year. It's now August. Heparin is on backorder, folks. I know you and I are going to be just fine but our patients may suffer. This is a good time to check out which of your patients could be switched from heparin to lovenox/enoxaparin, fondaparinux/arixtra, and other alternatives. Remember that there are certain vascular surgery and cardiothoracic procedures where there are no alternatives for heparin and we need to make sure that these patients have the medication they need as we try to weather the storm. Have you all had meetings yet to address this issue at your shop? Nurses, have you been kept in the loop of these impending issues? Pharmacists, am I overreacting?
-EJ
Other links:
https://www.ashp.org/drug-shortages/current-shortages/Drug-Shortage-Detail.aspx?id=353
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2019/05/01/Chinas-African-swine-fever-epidemic-could-cause-global-heparin-shortage/5881556646708/
https://www.raps.org/news-and-articles/news-articles/2018/2/concern-over-heparin-supply-prompts-call-for-fda-i
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-congress-heparin-china/congress-seeks-briefing-on-potential-threat-to-u-s-heparin-supply-idUSKCN1UP1TX
https://www.fiercepharma.com/manufacturing/congress-hits-panic-button-over-potential-shortage-chinese-heparin-as-chinese-swine
Estimated Resupply Dates per "https://www.ashp.org/drug-shortages/current-shortages/Drug-Shortage-Detail.aspx?id=353"
•Fresenius Kabi has heparin 5,000 unit/mL 10 mL vials on back order and the company estimates a release date of mid- to late-August 2019. The 5,000 unit/mL 1 mL syringes are on back order and the company estimates a release date of mid-August 2019. The 10,000 unit/mL 4 mL vials are on back order and the company cannot estimate a release date. There are short-dated 20,000 unit/mL 1 mL vials available with an expiration date of < 7 months. All other presentations are on allocation.
•Hikma has 1,000 unit/mL 2 mL vials, 5,000 unit/mL 2 mL vials, and 10,000 unit/mL 2 mL vials on allocation.
•Pfizer has 5,000 unit/mL 1 mL Carpuject syringes on back order and the company estimates a release date of August 2019. The 5,000 unit/mL 1 mL glass vials are on back order and the company estimates a release date of August 2019. The 5,000 unit/mL 10 mL vials are on back order and the company estimates a release date of December 2019. The 1,000 unit/mL 10 mL glass vials are on back order and the company estimates a release date of December 2019. The 1,000 unit/mL 30 mL vials are on back order and the company estimates a release date of August 2019. The 10,000 unit/mL 0.5 mL Carpuject syringes are available in limited supply. The 1,000 unit/mL 10 mL vials (NDC 00069-0058-01) are available in limited supply.
•Sagent has 1,000 unit/mL 2 mL and 10 mL vials on back order and the company estimates a release date of August 2019. The 1,000 unit/mL 1 mL and 30 mL vials are on back order and the company estimates a release date of September 2019. The 5,000 unit/mL 1 mL and 10 mL vials are on back order and the company estimates a release date of August 2019. The 10,000 unit/mL 1 mL and 4 mL vials are on back order and the company estimates a release date of August 2019.
Although great care has been taken to ensure that the information in this post is accurate, eddyjoemd, LLC shall not be held responsible or in any way liable for the continued accuracy of the information, or for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies, or for any consequences arising therefrom.
