Global shortage of critical eye drug Visudyne

There is a worldwide shortage of Visudyne, a drug used in the treatment of eye diseases. There are no alternatives for some eye conditions treated with Visudyne. In the Netherlands, this applies to about seven hundred patients, writes outgoing State Secretary Ankie Broekers-Knol (Justice, VVD) on Thursday on behalf of outgoing State Secretary Paul Blokhuis (Public Health, ChristenUnie). a letter to parliament. The shortage was caused by production problems at the manufacturer in the United States, the only one in the world to make this medicine.

Visudyne is the brand name for the active ingredient verteporfin. It is prescribed in the treatment of retinal disorders that lead to vision loss. According to Broekers-Knol, the remaining stock in the Netherlands is insufficient for all patients. “The manufacturer expects the medicine to become available again in the first quarter of 2022,” said the state secretary.

Attempts to obtain the eye drug elsewhere have so far failed. Since a shortage has also arisen in other countries, according to the cabinet, stocks are being held there. Setting up production in the Netherlands is also not feasible in the short term due to the complexity of the product.

Triage

Affected patients are informed by their treating physician about the Visudyne deficiency and the implications for their individual treatment. The Nederlands Oogheelkundig Gezelschap (NOG) has now drawn up a procedure for ophthalmologists to “use the remaining stock as well and fairly as possible”. The aim is to help patients most at risk of visual impairment be the first to treat, writes the Health and Youth Care Inspectorate.

The outgoing cabinet regrets the deficit that has arisen and says it will remain in contact with the parties involved. “If production in the Netherlands turns out to be possible, I will do my best to facilitate this,” says Broekers-Knol. “I would like to express my sincere condolences to the patients who are dependent on this medicine for their health and who are now facing an uncertain time.”

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