Va. lawmakers among those proposing bill to address drug shortages

FILE: Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee, responds to reporters following a briefing by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Defense Secretary Mark Esper, and other national security officials on the details of the threat that prompted the U.S. to kill Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

by: Kenzie Finch

Posted: Nov 26, 2024 / 09:15 AM MST

Updated: Nov 26, 2024 / 09:15 AM MST

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — A new bill has been introduced by lawmakers, including two in Virginia, to address drug shortages in the U.S.

The End Drug Shortages Act was proposed on Nov. 21 as a way to help reduce the severity of drug shortages. The bill was introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine (VA-D), Sen. Tom Cotton (AR-R), Rep. Abigail Spanberger (VA-D) and Rep. Adrian Smith (NE-R).

As of September 2024, there were over 275 active drug shortages listed on the Food and Drug Administration’s, or FDAs, drug shortage list, a release from Kaine states.

The End Drug Shortages Act, states that it would:

Require drug manufacturers to notify the FDA when there is a surge in demand of a drug that is likely to lead to a disruption in the supply of the drug.
Establish a definition of the term “surge.”
Ensure that the FDA considers information reported by patients, health care professionals, and manufacturers when designating a drug shortage.
Instruct the FDA to finalize October 2021 guidance for hospital and health system pharmacies and ensure that such guidance is consistent with the most current research and best clinical practices.

Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.