NCCN Survey Finds Persistent Cancer Drug Shortages Across US Centers

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has published updated data on generic cancer medication shortages in the US, finding that 100% of responding cancer centers are currently experiencing a shortage of at least 1 anticancer agent, with more than 20% of centers in shortage for 5 or more different medications.¹

The data come from survey responses collected in late August 2026 from pharmacy directors and other clinical and administrative leadership at NCCN Member Institutions.¹ NCCN first began surveying member institutions about drug shortages in June 2023 amid concerns over carboplatin and cisplatin supply; results from the current and previous surveys are available at NCCN.org/drug-shortages.^1,2

Shortage Details

Of the responding centers, 94% reported a shortage of ifosfamide, a generic chemotherapy used to treat bladder, ovarian, testicular, and uterine cancers, soft tissue sarcoma, osteosarcoma, and several adult and pediatric leukemias and lymphomas. An additional 71% of centers reported a shortage of carboplatin and 16% reported a shortage of cisplatin—both platinum-based chemotherapies used as backbone agents across numerous tumor types. More than half of respondents also reported a shortage of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), an immunotherapy used for bladder cancer.

When asked whether national or state policy has affected the shortage issue since 2023, 4% of pharmacy directors said conditions had improved, while 96% said conditions had stayed the same.

“It is disheartening that we remain in the same situation, including recurring or continued shortages of some drugs, despite years of raising the alarm and providing insight about this disruptive and dangerous issue for cancer care in America,” said Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, chief executive officer, NCCN, in a news release. “The good news is the cancer centers in our network have developed internal strategies, task forces, and communications plans for keeping patient care and clinical trials on track. The bad news is that this takes time and attention that could be better spent on improving patient experiences and outcomes and adds additional stress to an already burdened system.”

Mitigation Strategies and Policy Response

Among centers managing active shortages, 61% reported requiring pharmacy- and physician-led mitigation strategies to keep patients on recommended dosing and schedules, with most implementing waste-management strategies and others turning to alternative guideline-recommended regimens. When treatment plans had to be modified, 90% of centers reported needing repeat prior authorization, adding substantial per-patient workload and risk of delayed care.

“Nearly every pharmacy director who responded to our survey would like to see economic incentives put in place to encourage high-quality manufacturing for generic cancer medications,” said Alyssa Schatz, DrPH, MSW, vice president, Policy & Advocacy, NCCN, in a news release. “That is something that advocates have been requesting for years. As one respondent noted: ‘many oncology generics are clinically indispensable but economically unattractive. Without correcting that economic imbalance, shortages are likely to recur.’”

Schatz noted that survey respondents also called for better information on generic suppliers and earlier manufacturer notifications to the FDA. NCCN is part of the End Cancer Drug Shortages Coalition, a group of more than a dozen hematology/oncology nonprofits that released a consensus statement in May 2026 outlining policy proposals to address the shortages long term.^1,3

REFERENCES

1. New NCCN survey highlights persistent cancer medication shortages across United States. News release. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. September 10, 2026. Accessed September 11, 2026. https://tinyurl.com/mbkd6cjp

2. NCCN findings on cancer drug shortages. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Accessed September 11, 2026. https://tinyurl.com/5h7k5ydt

3. Drug shortages consensus statement. End Cancer Drug Shortages Coalition. May 2026. Accessed September 11, 2026. https://tinyurl.com/4wew368v