Patients receiving treatment for prostate cancer in Bulgaria are struggling to find Lutrate Depot after delayed production disrupted supplies. Regular deliveries are expected in early December, leaving patients and their doctors to manage the intervening weeks.
The product contains leuprorelin and the reported shortage concerns a depot injection administered at three-month intervals. A shipment planned for September did not arrive, gradually exhausting available stock. The manufacturer has extended its temporary interruption of sales until 1 December.
Bulgarian Drug Agency head Bogdan Kirilov said regular deliveries of around 18,000 packs were expected from December, intended to cover demand and build a buffer. Redistribution from other European markets was also being considered. These are supply expectations, not confirmation that pharmacies already have the medicine again.
Alternative therapies are included in the positive medicines list, but switching is an individual clinical decision. Patients should contact their treating oncology team if the next dose is approaching and the prescribed medicine cannot be obtained. The existence of alternatives does not make products automatically interchangeable.
The shortage highlights the vulnerability of continuing treatment to a production delay elsewhere in the supply chain. The immediate priorities are clear information on available stock, continuity planning with clinicians and confirmation that the announced deliveries actually reach pharmacies. The December forecast will need to be checked against the resumption of real supplies.
