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# Senators Want FDA Look at Cancer Drug Dosage
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/senators-want-fda-look-at-cancer-drug-dosage/
- Published: 2016-03-03T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T02:40:36.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5134959

> Sens. **Amy Klobuchar** (D-MN) and **Jeanne Shaheen** (D-NH) are asking FDA commissioner **Robert Califf** to examine the dosage size of cancer drugs and find a more efficient way to distribute the medications. Their 3/2 [letter](http://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=C25E9826-F13D-4684-9C98-CC4A6CEC23FD&ref=fdaweb.com) to Califf cites a recent study by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center that found that Medicare and private insurers waste nearly $3 billion a year on leftover medication from cancer vials that hold too much for most patients.  
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> “Cancer takes an emotional, physical, and financial toll on patients and families,” the senators write. “The current practice encourages waste and drives up costs for patients who rely on these lifesaving medications. Because the drugs used to treat cancer are expensive, even small amounts of leftover medication can be extremely costly for patients and the health system. Families fighting cancer should not have to worry about being able to afford the next dose of medication. We urge FDA to examine this practice to see if there is a more efficient way to deliver this crucial medication to the patients that need it.”  
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> The senators say that when the agency examines a drug for approval, it should explore additional tools to manage the dosage amount contained in a vial or other packaging. They say that by evaluating the amount of medication to be distributed per unit, FDA can encourage drug manufacturers to offer more appropriate and cost-effective packaging.