Cancer drug - Xeloda

In the news today:

THE makers of a cancer drug used for patients whose disease has spread have asked doctors not to start new patients on the medicine because of a global shortage.

An Adelaide oncologist said yesterday he was about a week away from putting a patient on intravenous chemotherapy instead of the oral medication, Xeloda, which was in short supply.

Dusan Kotasek, based at the Adelaide Cancer Centre, said if supplies of Xeloda ran out, it would be a "very substantial and dramatic challenge to the day-treatment facilities", where patients would need to go for intravenous therapy, instead of taking capsules at home.

Drug company Roche said about 1780 Australians were on Xeloda each month, principally for metastatic breast or colorectal cancer.

In a letter to doctors and pharmacists, Roche says it has been dealing with supply issues for some months.

"Unfortunately, due to increasing demand at this time of year, we now need to put additional measures in place to ensure that patients who most need Xeloda have continued access to it," the letter says.

"We ask that oncologists consider, where alternative therapies are available, not commencing new patients in metropolitan areas on Xeloda."

Dr Kotasek said Xeloda was the oral equivalent of fluorouracil (5-FU) and was especially useful for patients in regional and remote areas, who could avoid travelling to access intravenous chemotherapy.

"There have been a number of drug shortages for one reason or another over the years," he said. "This is just another example where a single supplier reduces the supply and there's worldwide consequences."

Pharmacy Guild SA president Ian Todd said he called Roche last week for some Xeloda for a customer. He was told he could have some but it was not being released generally in case pharmacies started stockpiling.

A Roche spokesman said the "additional measures" were because of an increased demand for Xeloda in December and January.