Products Affected - Description

• • Dacarbazine lyophilized powder for injection, Fresenius Kabi, 100 mg, vial, 1 count, NDC 63323-0127-10
  • Dacarbazine lyophilized powder for injection, Fresenius Kabi, 200 mg, vial, 1 count, NDC 63323-0128-20
  • Dacarbazine lyophilized powder for injection, Hikma, 200 mg, vial, 1 count, NDC 55390-0090-10
  • Dacarbazine lyophilized powder for injection, Teva, 200 mg, vial, 10 count, NDC 00703-5075-03

Reason for the Shortage

• • Fresenius Kabi has dacarbazine on shortage due to increased demand.
  • Hikma has dacarbazine on shortage due to increased demand.
  • Teva is not currently marketing dacarbazine.

Available Products

• • There is insufficient supply for usual ordering

• • Fresenius Kabi has dacarbazine 100 mg and 200 mg vials on back order and the company estimates a release date of late-May 2024 for the 100 mg vials and early-May 2024 for the 200 mg vials. Check wholesalers for inventory.
  • Hikma has dacarbazine 200 mg vials on allocation.

• • Consider evaluating the health-care system's total supply of dacarbazine before beginning patients on combination chemotherapy regimens containing dacarbazine. If adequate supplies are not available, select an alternative regimen.
  • The choice of an alternative agent must be patient-specific and based on renal function, liver function, and the neoplasm type and location. No single agent can be substituted for dacarbazine.
  • Consult a Hematology/Oncology specialist for patient- and neoplasm-specific recommendations.
  • Refer to the ASHP Guidelines on Managing Drug Product Shortages for more guidance on developing a multidisciplinary plan when the supply must be allocated. https://www.ashp.org/-/media/assets/policy-guidelines/docs/guidelines/managing-drug-product-shortages.pdf
  • Refer to national guidelines such as those from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (www.nccn.org) or American Society of Clinical Oncology (http://www.asco.org/) for additional information regarding therapeutic use.