Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: This study examines the relationship between the number of registered presentations and the duration of drug shortages in the United States. Shortages persist in the US and estimating duration is critical for policy and planning. Shortages affecting multiple presentations could represent more complex supply challenges, leading to longer durations, or the redundant supply could lead to faster resolutions. Understanding how the number of presentations impacts the duration of ongoing drug shortages may inform policy prioritization and supply chain strategies.
METHODS: Current shortages were captured on December 28, 2025 from the Food and Drug Administration’s list of “medically necessary” shortages. The duration in days was captured for each product as well as the number of listed presentations. Each product was classified as Single or Multiple-presentation (a specific formulation or strength of the product). Descriptive statistics (mean, median, IQR, minimum, maximum) were produced for duration and presentations. Given the small sample size (48 ongoing shortages), regression and survival methods would not be appropriate.
RESULTS: The 48 ongoing shortages had reported durations ranging from 39 to 3,604 days (mean 1,601 days). The number of presentations for all ongoing shortages ranged from 1 to 90 with a mean of 17.8 (median 11.5; IQR 7.5-23.3). The 43 products with multiple presentations had a longer mean duration (1,622 days) than the 5 single-presentation products (1,423 days). The durations for all shortages were highly variable and right-skewed, as would be expected for long-standing shortages. The small number of single-presentation shortages limits interpretability.
CONCLUSIONS: Ongoing shortages of products with multiple presentations had longer durations than shortages of single-presentation products. This could align with the supposition that products with more complex supply chain challenges experience more persistent shortages. That is, supply chain issues that affect multiple presentations may be more difficult to address.