Production of generics has shifted overseas, where it’s harder for the Food and Drug Administration to inspect factories. Major companies have been caught faking and manipulating the data that is supposed to prove that drugs are effective and safe. Probable carcinogens have been discovered in the drug supply. During the pandemic, which caused several countries to ban the export of medical supplies, a new fear has arisen: that faraway factories might one day cut Americans off from their drugs. Dozens of lifesaving medications are made with ingredients no longer manufactured in the United States.

Stockman,Farah “Our Drug Supply Is Sick. How Can We Fix It?” The New York Times, 18 September 2021

Philip Runyan pointed out this article today, and it is worth reading. It has personal connection with me, as well as professional in that my wife takes Levothyroxine. I’m a huge fan of Katherine Eban’s Bottle of Lies, and this opinion piece fits excellently into that strand of reporting. We need more reporters on this beat.

I do not think the quality of drug manufacturers worldwide are rising to the level of the US and Europe. I think onshoring is one of those trends that is going to shake the pharmaceutical world over the next decade. Civica is ahead of the curve, but not by much.

Good shoutout to Redica, one of my favorite tools for regulatory intelligence (but expensive).

Notice that Viatris (Mylan) fails at driving out fear. Layoffs are one of the largest possible sources of fear.

We will eventually see a quality rating system. Whether it looks like the FDA’s current metric initiative remains to be seen.