US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials expect drug
shortages to worsen over the next few months to years despite the fact
that the causes are well-known, including manufacturing problems,
scarcity of ingredients, stricter FDA enforcement, industry
consolidation and the thin margins for generic drugs. Peter Lurie, a
senior FDA adviser, cites "multiple factors and it's very difficult to
identify which one is most important." However, no one seems to have an
explanation for why the shortages are escalating.
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