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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Many children are affected by childhood cancers,
3including acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), which is the most
4common type of childhood cancer; and
 
5    WHEREAS, 98% of children with ALL go into remission within
6weeks of starting treatment, and approximately 90% of those
7children can be cured (in remission for 10 years) with proper
8treatment; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Vincristine is a low-cost chemotherapy medication
10that has proven effective in treating childhood cancers,
11including ALL, and is frequently used to treat childhood
12cancers; and
 
13    WHEREAS, According to the FDA, production issues with the
14sole supplier of vincristine may lead to a months-long
15shortage; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Shortages of vincristine may lead to rationing,
17patients being forced to skip doses, or patients receiving
18lower doses than optimal, which may decrease the effectiveness
19of treatment; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Studies have shown that approximately 65% of

 

 

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1pediatric hematologists and oncologists had patients who were
2affected by drug shortages; and
 
3    WHEREAS, A survey of hospitals has found that, on average,
4hospitals in the United States dedicate more than 8.6 million
5additional labor hours annually to manage drug shortages,
6creating a financial impact of nearly $360 million; and
 
7    WHEREAS, The Children's Oncology Group, a clinical trials
8group supported by the National Cancer Institute which is the
9world's largest organization devoted exclusively to pediatric
10cancer research, has called for intervention by governments to
11combat future drug shortages; therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
13HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
14we urge all stakeholders to work together in a cooperative
15fashion to not only resolve the current production issues
16effecting vincristine but also to further examine strategies to
17combat critical drug shortages; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
19delivered to Governor Pritzker, all U.S. Senators, and all U.S.
20Representatives.