BCG availability

5 years 2 months ago #56672 by Jack R
Replied by Jack R on topic BCG availability
The BCG availability status can be followed on the FDA website. The link below is directly to the expected January shortage notice. Suppliers are required to advise the FDA of expected supply problems in advance.

www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/SafetyAvailability/Shortages/ucm351921.htm

From the link above,

"Because on increased global demand and as the only source of BCG Live (Intravesical) in the United States and many other countries, Merck anticipates supply constraints for TICE® BCG in 2019.

To minimize disruption to patient care and address the current imbalance between supply and increased global demand TICE® BCG will be under allocation when demand exceeds production plans and available inventory.

For questions, please call Merck customer service at:
1-800-NSC-MERCK
(1-800-672-6372)

Or visit
www.merck.com/product/
oncology/home.html

Click on link for the full story, or follow developments at the FDA site

Sweating over BCG once again,
Jack

6/2015 HG Papillary & CIS
3 Years and 30 BCG/BCG+Inf
Tis CIS comes back.
BC clear as of 5/17 !
RCC found in my one & only kidney 10/17
Begin Chemo; Cisplatin and Gemzar
8/18 begin Chemo# 3
Begin year 4 with cis
2/19 Chemo #4
9/19 NED again :)
1/2020 CIS is back
Tried Keytruda, stopped by side effects
Workin on a new plan for 2021

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5 years 2 months ago #56668 by sara.anne
Replied by sara.anne on topic BCG availability
Yes, we have heard that once again there is a shortage of BCG. This happened a couple of year ago also and was very disturbing to patients who need this. Now it appears that we are heading for another "temporary" shortage.

The reasons for the shortage are complicated; this is a biological product and it takes weeks for the process to produce a "new batch." If there is contamination or other issues the culture has to start over. In addition, there is only one (1) provider of BCG, TICE which is affiliated with Merck. When something goes wrong, there is no alternative. This is a genuinely bad situation.

Sara Anne

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator

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5 years 2 months ago #56667 by Skipinmexico
Replied by Skipinmexico on topic BCG availability
Well, I just spoke with a large urology center in Denver and they have no BCG either and have no idea when it will be available. So the problem is not only in Mexico.

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5 years 2 months ago #56666 by sara.anne
Replied by sara.anne on topic BCG availability
BCG is a live biological product and isn’t available in pharmacies It is only available at a doctors office where it is administered under appropriate safety conditions You would have to be a patient in order to receive it.

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator

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5 years 2 months ago #56665 by Alan
Replied by Alan on topic BCG availability
I don't know the legal angles on this. I do know people in Texas cross to border cities to use pharmacies and that is OK.

DX 5/6/2008 TAG3 papillary tumor .5 CM in size. 2 TURBS followed by 6 instillations of BCG weekly with a second round of 6 after a 6 week wait.

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5 years 2 months ago #56664 by Skipinmexico
BCG availability was created by Skipinmexico
Hi,
I live in Mexico. My urologist would like me to have BCG treatment but says it Is currently not available here. My question is: Is it available in the US and if it is would it be possible for someone to purchase some and bring it to me?

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