Partnering to End Drug Shortages

Laura Bray’s daughter, Abby, endured significant setbacks in her fight against leukemia. First, the nine-year-old suffered a life-threatening allergic reaction during her initial chemotherapy treatment. Then came the devastating news that Abby’s only other option was a drug that was in short supply and nearly impossible to find. 
 
Determined, Laura contacted McKesson, where employees mobilized quickly to help Abby receive the lifesaving drug she needed. 

“I was a mom desperate for medicine for my daughter and McKesson answered the call,” Bray recalls. “They gave me hope.” 

Abby went on to face multiple drug shortages during her cancer treatment. It’s a significant hurdle that affects an estimated one in 10 cancer patients, with potentially devastating consequences.     

“I realized this couldn’t just be about getting medication to one child,” Bray says. “Patients don’t have time to wait. We need one system focused on ending drug shortages.”  

Bray launched the global nonprofit Angels for Change (A4C) to do just that. A4C advocates for patients, works to prevent shortages and operates the nation’s only drug shortage hotline to connect patients with available supply.  

She didn’t hesitate to ask McKesson to join her mission as a partner of A4C. Since then, we have supported the nonprofit as part of our overall commitment to mitigating drug shortages through action, advocacy and key partnership 

“We put the patient at the center of everything we do,” says Kirk Kaminsky, executive vice president, group president of the North American Pharmaceutical Services business at McKesson. “That’s why we’re building a reliable, resilient and sustainable supply chain to help address drug shortages holistically.”  
 
Kaminsky explains that innovation is an important part of preventing supply disruption. Artificial intelligence can help predict potential drug shortages. Improved data capabilities can optimize inventory and direct medicines where they are needed most. Cold chain infrastructure enables the safe delivery of temperature-sensitive treatments, particularly cancer drugs. 

Cancer treatments are more vulnerable to shortages due to their complexity, limited suppliers and manufacturing challenges. That’s where our impact is especially significant. 

“You can see the effect on a patient when they are in the middle of treatment and that drug isn’t available,” says Kaminsky. “It’s mentally tough and can affect their overall health outcomes.”

A Partnership for Supply Chain Resilience

At McKesson, we continue to advance our efforts in partnership with A4C to address oncology drug shortages through Project GOLD (Generic Oncology Lifesaving Drugs). This first-of-its-kind initiative aims to create an emergency buffer stock of six essential chemotherapy drugs that are prone to shortages. The reserve of medications will be housed and managed within our distribution network, readily available for delivery.  

This pilot program, developed alongside A4C members Cencora and Fresenius Kabi, represents a new model of resiliency in cancer care.  

“The issue of drug shortages is a complex, multifaceted problem,” says Kaminsky. “We’re proud to work with partners across the industry to create the excess supply needed to make sure cancer patients don’t experience disruptions in care.” 

Our engagement goes beyond logistics. Alongside A4C, we are advocating for solutions to drive systemic change at White House roundtable forums and through our support of SummitONE, a key supply chain conference focused on eliminating drug shortages.  

These combined efforts make a difference. Since its inception, A4C has helped patients access more than 750,000 lifesaving treatments. But with more than 300 essential medicines experiencing shortages today, the need for action has never been greater. 

It’s what drives our company to work toward a future where a patient like Abby, who is now cancer-free, can focus on getting better. 
 
“I’m grateful to McKesson for not just helping Abby, but for their efforts every day to ensure access for all,” Laura says. “Our partnership shows what is possible when people are fiercely committed to patient care.”