Spain Faces Supply Shortage of Critical Cancer Drug Tronoxal Until April 2026
Spain's health agency warns of a shortage of the cancer drug Tronoxal until April 2026 due to manufacturing issues, urging cautious use and alternative supplies.
- • Aemps alerts about supply disruption of oncological drug Tronoxal 1,000 mg due to unreported manufacturing halt.
- • Supply shortage expected to last until April 2026 with resumed production but no stock available currently.
- • Alternative foreign medication will be accessible by the end of this week via Special Situations Medicines application.
- • Aemps recommends prioritizing limited stock for specific cases and cautious use of non-authorized alternatives with different formulations.
Key details
The Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (Aemps) has issued an alert regarding significant supply issues affecting Tronoxal 1,000 mg, a crucial medication used for treating various advanced tumors and lymphomas in oncology patients. The shortage results from an unreported halt in manufacturing by the pharmaceutical company Baxter S. L., leading to a lack of available stock despite production resumption. Aemps expects the supply disruption to continue until April 2026.
Tronoxal contains the active ingredient ifosfamide and is part of Aemps's strategic medicines list. It is indicated for the treatment of advanced germ cell tumors of the testicle and ovary, osteosarcoma, soft tissue sarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, and refractory or relapsed Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma—all serious cancer conditions requiring timely treatment.
In response to the shortage, Aemps has announced that alternative foreign medications should become available by the end of this week and can be obtained through the Special Situations Medicines application. Until then, Aemps advises healthcare providers to prioritize using the limited available units of Tronoxal for specific critical cases. They also recommend careful dosage and patient monitoring when administering alternative non-authorized medications, which may differ in presentation, volume, or concentration. The agency has urged against stockpiling to ensure equitable distribution among patients.
Efforts are underway to expedite the resolution of the supply issues, though the official forecast points to recovery by April 2026. The alert highlights the importance of maintaining communication channels as the manufacturing halt was not previously reported to Aemps.
This supply disruption underscores the challenges in oncology treatment availability, particularly for essential medicines like Tronoxal. Addressing these shortages is vital to safeguard patient care continuity for those battling aggressive cancers requiring such chemotherapy protocols.
This article was translated and synthesized from Spanish sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
