Health Canada allows temporary import of ifosfamide amid shortage

Health Canada says a chemotherapy ingredient in short supply in Canada can be temporarily imported from a Chineseauthorized source to help ease a critical shortage. The drug, ifosfamide, is used to treat soft tissue sarcoma and some pancreatic and cervical cancers. Health officials said the imported version has the same active ingredient and dosage form as the Canadianauthorized product, but hospitals and health professionals have been told to note storage and labelling differences. The agency said this is the first time it has allowed the exceptional importation and sale of a Chineseauthorized drug for a critical shortage. The shortage is expected to continue into 2027, according to the European Medicines Agency, while some Canadian hospitals say they have already taken steps to keep patients supplied with treatment.