India Cancer Drug Shortage Grows as Platinum Costs Surge
Indian pharmaceutical companies are halting production of essential chemotherapy drugs like cisplatin as global platinum prices rise from 2,000 to 5,000 rupees per gram. Manufacturers are calling for a 50% increase in government price caps to maintain supply chains and prevent further treatment disruptions.
India is facing a critical shortage of platinum-based chemotherapy drugs as raw material costs jumped from 2,000 rupees to 5,000 rupees ($52.30) per gram. The supply crunch affects at least 25% of the nation's cancer patients who rely on these specific treatments for lung, liver, and ovarian malignancies. This crisis highlights the vulnerability of generic drugmakers to commodity price volatility when operating under strict government-mandated price ceilings.
### Supply Chain Disruptions and Rising Costs The shortage of cisplatin and carboplatin intensified over the last two weeks after South Africa exports slowed. Industry executives cited a combination of constrained mine output and Middle East conflict disruptions for the tightening supply. Platinum prices rallied to 5,000 rupees ($52.30) per gram, up from 2,000 rupees a year ago, according to Naprod Life Sciences director Mohan Jain.
