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As parents of children who have been treated for cancer, we are acutely aware of how critical it is for our children to have access to life-saving drugs. Since December, there has been a significant decline in the U.S. production of preservative-free Methotrexate (MTX). Children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in particular, are dependent upon availability of this drug for effective treatment of their cancer. Currently, the cure rate for ALL is approaching 90%. Having access to preservative-free Methotrexate is essential to saving these children's lives.
As a result of the reduction in the availability of this drug, hospitals treating children with cancer are already beginning to ration it. They anticipate that it will be a matter of days to weeks when there will no longer be any available supply.
ACCO is asking each of you to contact your Members of Congress (MOC). We're especially asking for a heroic number of calls from those who live in the states where the four manufacturing companies are located - i.e. Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Please impress upon your MOC's the urgency that they immediately contact the four companies currently manufacturing MTX in the U.S. and demand that they:
1) prioritize production of the preservative-free form of the drug and
2) work with the FDA to import preservative-free Methotrexate if sources are available.
Our children's lives depend upon us.
Because kids can't fight cancer alone!
Ruth I Hoffman MPH, Executive Director
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