Drug Shortages Research

Flow chart comparing Mitigation Shield and Preparedness Shield scenarios

Drug shortages are a persistent threat to patient care, delaying treatment, forcing costly substitutions, and straining health systems across the country. Led by Katie J. Suda, PharmD, MS, researchers at the Center for Pharmaceutical Policy and Prescribing are building a sustained program of work to understand why shortages happen, predict when they will occur, and identify policy solutions that can prevent them.

This body of work spans three linked projects: an AHRQ-funded study examining the impact of COVID-19 on drug shortages, a new NIH R01 (SUPPLY-US) focused on strengthening U.S. pharmaceutical supply chains, and an NIH R13 award to launch a national conference series convening researchers, clinicians, and policymakers around this issue. Together, they bring a cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional team spanning pharmacy, health policy, and health economics to one of the most pressing and timely challenges in U.S. health care.

Active Drug Shortages Projects

Impact of COVID-19 on Drug Shortages

Funder: AHRQ; PI: Suda
This study examines how the COVID‑19 pandemic disrupted drug supply chains in the U.S. and Canada, revealing a sharp surge in shortages—especially for injectable, generic, and essential medications—between February and April 2020. The research links these shortages to treatment interruptions and adverse clinical outcomes, highlighting vulnerabilities in global pharmaceutical supply chains and informing policy strategies to enhance resilience during future health emergencies

Drug Shortages Conference: Improving the resiliency of the drug supply chain and access to medicines in short supply for older adults

Funder: NIA; PI: Suda
CP3 is launching the first conference series dedicated exclusively to drug shortages, convening researchers, health systems, manufacturers, and policymakers to share findings and build actionable solutions. The series will produce expert panel recommendations and a white paper aimed at strengthening supply chain resilience and protecting patient access to medications.

Strengthening U.S. Pharmaceutical Supply Chains: Understanding, Predicting, and Preventing Drug Shortages (SUPPLY-US)

Funder: NIA; PI: Suda
SUPPLY-US examines the true intensity of drug shortages, not just whether one occurs, to understand how severe and prolonged disruptions affect older adults who rely most on continuous medication access. The project will compare shortage patterns in the U.S. and Canada and develop an At-Risk Medicine List to help health systems anticipate and prioritize medications most vulnerable to supply chain disruption.

Key Publications from This Work