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BCG Shortage Update.
If you are currenty being treated with BCG or you expect to be treated in the near future you should read.
Merck Canada has recently advised that there will be a complete supply outage of BCG between mid- to late-June and the end of July 2019 due to a manufacturing delay. Given this news, Bladder Cancer Canada has updated the correspondence that was distributed to the medical community back on November 8, 2018.
Just click the link below.
Jack
Hi Jack,
The guideline BCC medical board has suggested is for physicians.
What about us, patients? What are the suggestions to patients from our medical board?
For example, can or should a patient have a choice to go to another hospital if the hospital has BCG supplies? This is possible in US but Canada has universal healthcare system. It is likely that patients in Canada are bound to deal with only within the healthcare authority of their residence. Is anyone coordinating the rationing of BCG among hospitals in Canada, so BCG goes to each hospital equitably though I do not know what it means equitable in this kind of situation?
This is not the first time we have experienced the BCG shortage. Also we had 8 months since we became aware of possible shortage. The shortage causes not only anxiety among patients but also the suggested alternative treatments are sub-optimum compared to when we have enough BCG available. So, I am a bit frustrated.
Joe
Hi Joe
Reply to your and all of our concerns from BCC.
As the memo explains there is an allocation program in place through a third party (outside Merck) and has been since October 2018. Hospitals are receiving supply based on historical ordering so that centres can’t stockpile. Right now Merck is operating at 70% allocation across Canada. Patients should discuss with their doctors if they have concerns.
BBC is doing absolutely everything possible to advocate. working strenuously with Verity Pharma on readying the availability and supply of the second strain.
BBC is working with Health Canada and the Drug Shortages Task Force on two fronts – the emergency supply and the permanent approval for a secondary supplier.
We have informed our medical community (a memo went to ALL urologists across Canada from BCC), hospitals, and through our public channels – our patient community.
Bladder Cancer Canada
Hi Jack,
Thank you for your prompt reply and clarifying some of questions I had.
I appreciate BCC for doing its best to proactively lessen the impact of the shortage and finding a permanent solution for this problem not to happen again.
I just personally sent an email to Honorable Don Davies, who is a vice chair of Health Committee of HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA. Honorable Davies’ constituency is Vancouver, where many of participants of the in-patient support group live. As a constituent, I have requested his help to look into the matter.
By the way, did BCC or CUA come up with similar recommended guideline to physicians when the BCG shortage happened in 2014?
Joe
Hi Jack,
The shortage dates coincide with my induction doses of BCG. June 12- through July. I have a HGT1 BC, and my urologist said that I should have the full strength BCG. Not sure where this leaves me. I will go on Wednesday to pick up the BCG from the Cancer Agency and find out then I suppose.
Xandra
Hi all,
This BCG storage “thing” is becoming an annual event…it seems, when have we not had a shortage? I’m not really sure why but it seems to me to be a cost initiated thing. Let’s face it, when seasonal work is at a low, production will be affected. I don’t think it has anything to do with product availability in as much it is about low cost production availability.
Joe’s action to go to our Health Care Supporters/Providers is something we should all do…BCC would benefit too…Count Me In.
Rick
Update From BCG Supplier Merck.
Not good news.
https://bladdercancercanada.org/en/limited-supply-of-bcg/
BCG (ONCOTICE) SUPPLY UPDATE – AUGUST 8, 2019
By Tammy Northman | Latest news and stories | Comments are Closed | 5 June, 2019 | 0
IMPORTANT UPDATE – AUGUST 8, 2019Bladder Cancer Canada and its Medical Advisory Board were advised by Merck Canada back in November 2018 that they would be experiencing limited supply of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) in the coming year.
As the only supplier of BCG in Canada Merck established an allocation plan last fall and committed to keeping information updated at: https://www.drugshortagescanada.ca/drug/4066
During that time Merck expected to fulfill between 75% and 100% of the normal demand with an anticipated end date of October 2019.
Effective August 7, 2019 BCC has been advised by Merck that the new anticipated end date for the allocation plan has been extended to December 2020.
Below is an approach for consideration for physicians to address the shortage/outage of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG):
Download the document here: Approach to Address BCG Shortage updated June 2019
The Medical Advisory Board of Bladder Cancer Canada and the CUA Guidelines Committee have reviewed and support these suggestions.
Bladder Cancer Canada is awaiting final discussions between Health Canada and a second supplier with regards to accessing the BCG Russian strain for use in Canada. Bladder Cancer Canada is continuing to work closely with Health Canada and do everything possible to expedite the approval of a second BCG supplier in Canada and minimize the effect of the shortage on bladder cancer patients.
Read the Bladder Cancer Canada Position Statement on the BCG Shortage
Bladder Cancer Canada will continue to update you as we receive more information.
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