FDA Warns That Injectable Boniva Osteoporosis Drug in Short Supply

Posted on June 8, 2012

A potential drug shortage may cause some people to not be able to get the drug they want, and force them to settle on a generic version.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, vials of a drug known as Boniva are in short supply.  The shortage affects the injectable version of the drug, which is used for those patients who have difficulties with swallowing oral tablets.  The oral version of Boniva is not affected by the shortage.  The injections come only once every three months, while the tablets have to be taken every month.

The drug is used in order to treat osteoporosis in women who have recently undergone menopause.  Various generic versions of the drug are known as ibandronate, but it does not appear that generic versions are experiencing a shortage.

The announcement of the shortage was issued once it was determined that supply of the drug was not up to demand.  Roche’s Genentech, the maker of the drug, said in a statement that they weren’t sure exactly why their projections for how in demand the drug would be turned out to be inaccurate.  They have stated that they are doing what they can to ramp up production and correct the stock issue.  They believe that shipments will go out once again later this month.

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