SAMS Statement on Shortages of Critical Medicines in the United States

WASHINGTON, D.C., December 7, 2022 – The Securing America’s Medicines and Supply (SAMS) Coalition has been alarmed by continued shortages of critical medications in the United States, including amoxicillin, children’s acetaminophen, oseltamivir, and Adderall.

Shortages of these crucial drugs are part of a wider medical supply chain problem. Three times as many drugs have been experiencing shortages since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic according to the Food and Drug Administration. Some of these shortages stem from overseas manufacturers, who are responsible for producing 88% of active pharmaceutical ingredients in American drugs. Today, 121 drugs are currently in shortage in the United States.

These ongoing shortages demonstrate the pressing need to re-shore critical American medical production and support existing domestic manufacturers. The passage of bipartisan legislation such as the MADE in America Act, the American Made Pharmaceuticals Act, and the Essential Medicines Strategic Stockpile Act would help secure America’s access to critical medications while supporting innovative domestic companies.

“As the world’s wealthiest country, we should never be in the position where we have a shortage of critical medications for American citizens. We have the ability to alleviate these shortages with idle excess capacity in the U.S., but policymaking needs to promote this,” said David Sanders, Executive Director of SAMS. “The government needs to incentivize domestic and ally production of these critical drugs immediately, as well as lean on private distributors to assist in managing these stockpiles of essential medicines so that we, as a country, can resolve life-threatening deficiencies before the problem gets worse. Additionally, we need to fully fund the President’s biomanufacturing initiative as well as the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response / Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority.”

About Securing America’s Medicines and Supply

Securing America’s Medicines and Supply (SAMS) is a multi-industry coalition of companies with the mission to strengthen the security of the medical supply chain in the United States. SAMS seeks to drive the implementation of legislation and regulation to reward and foster U.S.-made manufacturing of important pharmaceutical products, devices, and supplies. SAMS supports U.S. patients, domestic healthcare security, and U.S. jobs.