TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb 13, 2025--
Angels for Change (A4C) announces the pilot launch of Project GOLD ( G eneric O ncology L ifesaving D rugs), a new resiliency program that establishes an onshore buffer supply of six essential medications that are used to treat cancer. Project GOLD was created to offer physicians and patients stability of care during a shortage through emergency supply at leading distributors and manufacturers. A4C is participating with founding pilot members, pharmaceutical wholesalers Cencora and McKesson, and pharmaceutical and medtech manufacturer Fresenius Kabi, highlighting the power of collaboration in addressing this critical issue.
Phase 1 of this program aims to highlight how proactive engagement, buffer inventories, collaboration, and patient advocacy can reduce the risk of patient disruption during shortages. This proactive approach will also help inform how much and where buffer supply should exist to allow crucial medications to remain accessible for the patients who need them.
Project GOLD is a first-of-its-kind resiliency collaboration in the U.S., uniquely designed to address drug shortages in the oncology sector. At launch, Project GOLD has already achieved three significant milestones, setting a new standard for proactive and collaborative solutions to drug shortages.
- Onshored additional U.S. supply of essential chemotherapies that can be vulnerable to shortages.
- Reached critical mass through its founding members, Cencora, Fresenius Kabi, and McKesson, who are all healthcare supply chain leaders.
- Launched a process to facilitate access to patients in need through the A4C Drug Shortage Hotline, the nation’s only drug shortage crisis line for all patients, physicians, and pharmacists.
Integrating redundancy, reliability, and a patient-centered approach into the design and operation of the generic pharmaceutical supply chain is crucial to effectively addressing drug shortages. The potential impact of these measures is significant and made achievable through an enhanced collaborative approach, which includes proactive engagement, regular communication, joint problem-solving, and patient-focused decision-making.
The pilot will run for six months. During this time, members will work to help prevent U.S. patients from being rationed from care should any of the included six medicines go short. The long-term goal of Project GOLD is to maintain an onshore emergency supply of all oncology medicines vulnerable to shortage. This goal is possible because all three founding pilot members have individually invested significantly in resiliency programs. Project GOLD will activate these proven and successful programs, connecting them with the A4C Drug Shortage Hotline to facilitate care.
Angels for Change Statement
“Project GOLD represents a significant commitment and immediate actions by program stakeholders for cancer patients in need. Manufacturers and Distributors are key to ending drug shortages. I am grateful for the leadership and patient-focused work of our GOLD founding pilot members: Cencora, Fresenius Kabi, and McKesson. Today is a significant moment in building the supply chain of the future that leaves no patient behind." —Laura Bray, Chief Change Maker, Angels for Change.
Cencora Statement
“As part of our commitment to addressing the issue of drug shortages, Cencora is proud to be a founding pilot member of Project GOLD,” said Matt Glucksmann, SVP & President of Health Systems & Government Services at Cencora. “Partnerships are the key to a resilient and reliable healthcare system, and as drug shortages persist, it’s imperative that stakeholders across the pharmaceutical supply chain collaborate to foster transparency, enhance safety stock inventories and provide timely distribution. Our work with Angels for Change helps providers deliver the right drug, to the right patient, at the right time.”
Fresenius Kabi Statement
“Fresenius Kabi is pleased to collaborate on Project GOLD with Angels for Change, " said Lindsey Thomas, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Fresenius Kabi USA. "This type of shared commitment across the pharmaceutical supply chain of care can help end drug shortages. All stakeholders have a role to play in ending shortages, and Fresenius Kabi believes collective efforts that address root causes, rather than continuing to manage shortages, will ultimately lead to a more stable and resilient drug supply. We invite others to join us in helping to end drug shortages.”
McKesson Statement
"At McKesson, we understand that patients' lives depend on having continuous access to essential medications. Project GOLD is a pivotal step toward ensuring that oncology patients receive uninterrupted access to lifesaving therapies. By working collaboratively with Angels for Change, and stakeholders across the pharmaceutical supply chain, we aim to fortify the supply chain and safeguard patient care against future disruptions," said Jessica White, PharmD, VP of Multisource Portfolio & Programs for McKesson.
About Drug Shortages
Drug shortages are a significant issue impacting the nation. According to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) 2023 survey, nearly all hospital pharmacists (99%) reported experiencing at least one essential drug shortage daily. More than half of respondents say their institution has had to delay or cancel treatments – including cancer therapies – because of shortages.
Cancer patients are uniquely vulnerable to drug shortages, which can result in major patient care impacts. In 2023, oncology products comprised the largest class of medicines in shortage. Many doctors nationwide have indicated that they are modifying treatment plans in response to ongoing shortages, underscoring the critical need for solutions in the American healthcare system. 1
The FDA stated in its 2019 Drug Shortages Root Causes and Potential Solutions that ending drug shortages will require "multi-stakeholder involvement and rethinking current business practices." 2 A4C has a history of facilitating successful multi-stakeholder, scalable pilots focused on ending drug shortages. These pilots are designed to help build a more resilient supply chain and help the right drug get to the right patient every time.
About Angels for Change
Angels for Change (A4C) is a volunteer-supported, global 501c3 organization started in Tampa, FL, on a mission to end drug shortages through advocacy, awareness, and a resilient supply chain. Angels for Change is a volunteer supporting organization on a mission to end drug shortages through advocacy, awareness, and a resilient supply chain. A4C was established in 2019 after Laura’s firsthand experience facing shortages of lifesaving drugs for her child undergoing cancer treatment. Since its inception, A4C has made a real and lasting impact toward ending drug shortages, driven by a single guiding principle: What I would do for my child is what should be done for every patient. Learn more at www.angelsforchange.org
About Cencora
Cencora is a leading global pharmaceutical solutions organization centered on improving the lives of people and animals worldwide. We partner with pharmaceutical innovators across the value chain to facilitate and optimize market access to therapies. Care providers depend on us for the secure, reliable delivery of pharmaceuticals, healthcare products, and solutions. Our 46,000+ worldwide team members contribute to positive health outcomes through the power of our purpose: We are united in our responsibility to create healthier futures. Learn more at www.cencora.com.
About Fresenius Kabi
As a global healthcare company, Fresenius Kabi is Committed to Life. The company's products, technologies, and services are used for treating critically and chronically ill patients. With more than 43,000 employees and a presence in over 100 countries, Fresenius Kabi's expansive product portfolio focuses on providing access to high-quality and lifesaving medicines and technologies. Fresenius Kabi is an operating company of the Fresenius Group, founded in 1912, along with Helios and Quirónsalud. As ONE team, the companies in the Fresenius Group are committed to providing lifesaving and life-changing healthcare solutions on a global scale. For more information, please visit https://www.fresenius-kabi.com/us.
About McKesson Corporation
McKesson Corporation is a diversified healthcare services leader dedicated to advancing health outcomes for patients everywhere. Our team partners with biopharma companies, care providers, pharmacies, manufacturers, governments, and others to deliver insights, products, and services that help make quality care more accessible and affordable. Learn more about how McKesson impacts virtually every healthcare aspect at McKesson.com and read Our Stories.
1 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. (2023, August 10). New ASHP survey: Critical shortages of cancer drugs harm patient care. ASHP News. https://www.ashp.org
2FDA. Drug Shortages: Root Causes and Potential Solutions A Report by the Drug Shortages Task Force 2019. (2019). https://www.fda.gov/media/131130/download
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CONTACT: Laura Bray
communications@angelsforchange.org
813-501-7742
KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA FLORIDA DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
