Video of Trinity J Bivalacqua,  MD, PhD, on the BCG shortage impact on patients

BCG Shortage Impact on Patients

Trinity J. Bivalacqua, MD, PhD, Professor of Urology and Oncology at the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, University of Pennsylvania discusses the impact of BCG shortages on bladder cancer patients and the goal of developing alternative options for BCG for those who do not have access to BCG or cannot tolerate it.

Transcript: The BCG shortage has had profound effects on patient’s ability to get into a urologist and receive adequate and effective intravesical therapy. We know that BCG is the most effective way to treat high risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. If BCG is not available, then obviously we have other options which include intravesical chemotherapy. With the BCG shortages that are now permanent here in the United States, as well as around the world, a lot of patients aren’t able to get the best treatment for their high-risk non-muscle vasal bladder cancer. So, this has translated into a lot of patients that are seeing more risk recurrence and potentially needing a major surgery, things like radical cystectomy. I think in the future, our goal as a community is to help develop alternative options for patients that are not able to receive BCG due to BCG shortages or are intolerant of BCG, that can’t tolerate it.