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Key Points 

• Drug shortages affect an estimated one in 10 cancer patients and can have devastating consequences.
• Angels for Change advocates for patients, works to prevent shortages and operates the nation’s only drug shortages hotline.
• McKesson partners with Angels for Change to help mitigate drug shortages through action, advocacy and collaboration.
• Project GOLD aims to create an emergency buffer stock of essential chemotherapy drugs to prevent disruptions in care. 

Laura Bray’s daughter, Abby, endured significant setbacks in her fight against leukemia. First, the nine-year-old suffered a life-threatening allergic reaction during her initial chemotherapy treatment. Then came the devastating news that Abby’s only other option was a drug that was in short supply and nearly impossible to find. 
 
Determined, Laura contacted McKesson, where employees mobilized quickly to help Abby receive the lifesaving drug she needed. 

“I was a mom desperate for medicine for my daughter and McKesson answered the call,” Bray said. “They gave me hope.” 

Abby went on to face multiple drug shortages during her cancer treatment—a significant hurdle that affects an , with potentially devastating consequences.     

“I realized this couldn’t just be about getting medication to one child,” Bray said. “Patients don’t have time to wait. We need one system focused on ending drug shortages.”

How Angels for Change Was Formed

Bray launched the global nonprofit (A4C) to do just that. A4C advocates for patients, works to prevent shortages and operates the nation’s only drug shortage hotline to connect patients with available supply.  

She didn’t hesitate to ask McKesson to join her mission as a partner of A4C. Since then, McKesson has supported the nonprofit as part of our overall commitment to mitigating drug shortages through action, advocacy and key partnerships.

How McKesson Helps Address Drug Shortages

Kaminsky explains that innovation plays an important role in preventing supply disruption, including: 

• Using artificial intelligence to help predict potential drug shortages
• Improving data capabilities to optimize inventory and direct medicines where they are needed most
• Expanding cold chain infrastructure to enable safe delivery of temperature-sensitive treatments, particularly cancer drugs

  We’re proud to work with partners across the industry to create the excess supply needed to make sure cancer patients don’t experience disruptions in care.

Cancer treatments are especially vulnerable to shortages due to their complexity, limited suppliers and manufacturing challenges. 

“You can see the effect on a patient when they are in the middle of treatment and that drug isn’t available,” Kaminsky said. “It’s mentally tough and can affect their overall health outcomes.”

McKesson is proud to work with partners across the industry to create the excess supply needed to help ensure cancer patients do not experience disruptions in care. 

A Partnership for Supply Chain Resilience

McKesson continues to work with A4C to address oncology drug shortages through Project GOLD (Generic Oncology Lifesaving Drugs). This first-of-its-kind initiative aims to create an emergency buffer stock of six essential chemotherapy drugs that are prone to shortages.

The reserve supply will be housed and managed within McKesson's distribution network and remain readily available for delivery.  

This pilot program, developed alongside A4C members Cencora and Fresenius Kabi, represents a new model of resiliency in cancer care.  

“The issue of drug shortages is a complex, multifaceted problem,” Kaminsky said. “We’re proud to work with partners across the industry to create the excess supply needed to make sure cancer patients don’t experience disruptions in care.”

Advocacy and Impact

McKesson's engagement goes beyond logistics. Alongside A4C, McKesson advocates for systemic solutions to drive change through:

• White House roundtable forums
• Support of SummitONE, a supply chain conference focused on eliminating drug shortages

These combined efforts are making a measurable impact. Since its inception, A4C has helped patients access more than 750,000 lifesaving treatments. However, with today, the need for action remains urgent. 

It’s what drives our company to work toward a future where a patient like Abby, who is now cancer-free, can focus on getting better. 
 
“I’m grateful to McKesson for not just helping Abby, but for their efforts every day to ensure access for all,” Bray said. “Our partnership shows what is possible when people are fiercely committed to patient care.”