Drug makers must now detail controlled substance supply to prevent shortages

The US Drug Enforcement Administration is tightening rules for how drug manufacturers report their production of controlled substances. Companies will now have to provide more detailed information on where these drugs go, helping the agency track the supply chain more closely.

US drug regulators have struggled to get a clear picture of the supply chain for critical controlled substances, leading to unexpected shortages. This change means the agency will have more granular data on what manufacturers are producing and where it is going. This allows them to intervene faster when supplies run low, but it also means drug manufacturers will have a higher reporting burden.