There were 98 drug shortages in 2024, as reported by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). The report indicates that 89% of these drugs were first reported in shortage in 2023. According to the USP Annual Drug Shortages Report: Long-Standing Drug Shortages Persist in 2024, the average duration of a drug shortage now exceeds four years. Additionally, five drugs have been experiencing shortages for over a decade.
The report highlights that three sterile injectables currently facing shortages were produced at a facility in North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Factors contributing to these shortages include low prices, manufacturing complexity, geographic concentration of manufacturing, and quality concerns.
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