Is there a still a shortage of BCG for bladder cancer?

Is there a still a shortage of BCG for bladder cancer?

The non–muscle invasive bladder cancer treatment BCG remains in short supply, with Merck currently serving as the sole supplier of the medication in the US.

Why is there a global shortage of BCG?

Treatment in times of BCG shortage The closure of BCG production plants, reduction of production, and the withdrawal of the BCG Connaught strain manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur has led to a sustained worldwide shortage of BCG.

When did BCG shortage start?

When did the shortage begin? Shortages initially began in 2012 when a Canadian factory (BCG Conaught) discovered mold in their facility. BCG Conaught was forced to close, which stopped BCG production. At that time, the company was the main source for BCG treatment in North America and Europe.

Is BCG available in the US?

Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a vaccine for tuberculosis (TB) disease. This vaccine is not widely used in the United States, but it is often given to infants and small children in other countries where TB is common.

What are the long term effects of BCG treatment for bladder cancer?

In Summary. Commonly reported side effects of bcg include: urinary tract infection, detrusor hyperreflexia of bladder, fever, hematuria, urinary frequency, urinary urgency, vomiting, chills, and malaise.

Can I buy BCG?

₹ 799 / UnitBy: Castor Lifecare Pvt. Ltd.

How much does BCG cost?

The mean cost of BCG therapy was US$1,936 per patient, and its cost-effectiveness ratio was US$525 per recurrence-free year.

What is the success rate of BCG treatment for bladder cancer?

Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy is highly effective for managing high-risk non-muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder, with complete response rates at times as high as 83 percent.

How successful are BCG treatments?

A recent study was published evaluating maintenance BCG therapy [23]. The authors observed a three-year recurrence free survival of 75.3% and disease-free survival of 96.1%. However, they reported a high complication rate of 81.5%.

Is there an alternative to BCG?

If BCG is not available, alternatives to BCG such as gemcitabine, epirubicin, docetaxel, valrubicin, mitomycin, or sequential gemcitabine/docetaxel or gemcitabine/mitomycin may also be considered with an induction and possible maintenance regimen.

Does insurance pay for BCG treatment?

BCG is typically used for noninvasive and minimally invasive bladder cancers, and it may be covered by Medicare if it’s deemed medically necessary by your doctor.

Is BCG better than chemo?

Conclusions: Intravesical BCG significantly reduces the risk of short and long-term treatment failure compared with intravesical chemotherapy. Therefore, it is considered to be the intravesical agent of choice in the treatment of CIS.