By Ed Silverman
June 10, 2026
Pharmalot Columnist, Senior Writer
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the middle of the week. Congratulations on making it this far, and remember, there are only a few more days until the weekend arrives. So keep plugging away. After all, what are the alternatives? While you ponder the possibilities, we invite you to join us for a delightful cup of stimulation. Our choice today is maple cinnamon French toast, a pantry favorite. Remember that no prescription is required — so no need to reach for your abacus to calculate a co-pay or rebate. Meanwhile, here is the latest menu of tidbits to help you on your way. Have a wonderful day, and please do stay in touch. …
The number of prescription drug shortages in the U.S. fell by 23% last year, marking the second consecutive year of declines and the lowest level since 2017, according to a new analysis that otherwise found troubling signs about medicines that are in short supply , STAT says. For instance, the average drug shortage lasted 5.3 years, exceeding the 4.3 years seen in 2024 and greatly outpacing the average two-year shortage experienced in 2019. Moreover, nearly two-thirds of out-of-stock medicines were in short supply for more than three years, and 39% were unavailable for more than five years. Meanwhile, the 75 drugs that were in short supply last year spanned 130 therapeutic categories, indicating that shortages affected a wide range of diseases and patient populations.
In Europe, two divergent paths are emerging as countries grapple with what to do about drug prices, affecting pharma companies and patients across the continent — and testing the influence of the U.S. , STAT explains. In the U.K., after a pressure campaign from both pharma companies and the Trump administration, the government has adopted more industry-friendly policies while also simply promising to spend more on medicines. Germany, another of the continent’s biggest markets, is headed in the opposite direction. Facing growing deficits in its health budget, the government has proposed moves that would cut spending and increase the fees the industry has to pay.
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Read the full article at STAT News →📄Source document: New Analysis on Drug Shortages→2 reports
STAT NewsIndependentCenter11 days agoThe article reports that the number of prescription drug shortages in the U.S. decreased by 23% in 2025, continuing a trend of decline and reaching the lowest level since 2017. However, the duration of these shortages has increased significantly, with an average of 5.3 years compared to 4.3 years in 2024 and much longer than the two-year average in 2019. Nearly two-thirds of the out-of-stock medications had been in short supply for over three years, and 39% were unavailable for more than five years. The 75 drugs in short supply last year covered 130 different therapeutic categories.
Bias read (Center): The article presents statistical data without overtly favoring any political perspective. It highlights both the decrease in the number of drug shortages and the increase in their duration, providing balanced information without apparent ideological framing or biased language.
STAT NewsIndependentCenter12 days ago STAT+: The shortage of many medicines in the U.S. remains a ‘systemic’ problem, a new analysis findsA new analysis by U.S. Pharmacopeia indicates that while the number of prescription drug shortages in the U.S. decreased by 23% in 2025, the duration of these shortages has increased significantly. The average drug shortage now lasts 5.3 years, compared to 4.3 years in 2024 and two years in 2019. Nearly two-thirds of out-of-stock medicines have been in short supply for over three years, with 39% unavailable for more than five years. The 75 drugs in short supply last year spanned 130 therapeutic categories, affecting a broad range of diseases and patients.
Bias read (Center): The article presents statistical findings from an independent organization, U.S. Pharmacopeia, without overtly favoring any political perspective. It highlights both the reduction in the number of drug shortages and the increase in their duration, providing balanced data without editorializing or sl
Official sources cited
- organisation Analysis by U.S. Pharmacopeia
United States