shortagewatch

Home / Companies / Essential

Company family

Essential: medicine shortages

As of 2 Nov 2026, 4 Essential products have a reported shortage across 2 countries, covering 4 medicines.

Products short4rank #350 of 464
Medicines4active ingredients
Countries2/16
New in 90 days20 vs market pace
Typical duration3 monthsmedian so far
Manufacturing50%demand-driven 25%

Where

Italy3Belgium1

Which therapeutic classes

Nervous system1Sensory organs1Genito-urinary system and sex hormones1Anti-infectives1

Why, compared with all companies

Manufacturing problemIncreased demandActive ingredient shortageDistribution or logisticsCommercial decision or withdrawalRegulatory or licensingOtherNot stated
EssentialEssential: Manufacturing problem 2 (50%)50%Essential: Increased demand 1 (25%)25%Essential: Other 1 (25%)25%All companiesAll companies: Manufacturing problem 4,893 (36%)36%All companies: Increased demand 1,873 (14%)14%All companies: Active ingredient shortage 367 (3%)All companies: Distribution or logistics 336 (2%)All companies: Commercial decision or withdrawal 435 (3%)All companies: Regulatory or licensing 131 (1%)All companies: Other 1,244 (9%)9%All companies: Not stated 4,221 (31%)31%

Manufacturing problems point to the company's own supply chain; increased demand often follows a competitor's shortage or a demand shock.

When its current shortages began

00112Dec: 0Jan ’25: 0Feb: 0FebMar: 0Apr: 1May: 0MayJun: 0Jul: 0Aug: 0AugSep: 0Oct: 0Nov: 0NovDec: 0Jan ’26: 0Feb: 0FebMar: 0Apr: 0May: 0MayJun: 1Jul: 0Aug: 0AugSep: 0Oct: 2Nov: 0Nov

Against its peers

Viatris995Teva903Sandoz599Pfizer491Accord (Intas)484Stada349Zentiva340Fresenius Kabi339Apotex326Sun Pharma250Aurobindo226Towa (Pensa)201Krka187Sanofi158Essential4

Breadth vs depth

1101001,00010,0001101001,000Products short (log scale)Medicines affected (log scale)Viatris: 995 / 248ViatrisTeva: 903 / 289TevaSandoz: 599 / 198SandozPfizer: 491 / 122PfizerAccord (Intas): 484 / 151Accord (Intas)Stada: 349 / 140Zentiva: 340 / 159ZentivaFresenius Kabi: 339 / 81Apotex: 326 / 152Sun Pharma: 250 / 77Aurobindo: 226 / 111Towa (Pensa): 201 / 102Krka: 187 / 67Sanofi: 158 / 45Jamp: 151 / 74Baxter: 149 / 27Sawai: 148 / 68Hikma: 126 / 44Glenmark: 105 / 39Sanis: 98 / 54Cheplapharm: 86 / 28GSK: 85 / 38Advanz (Amdipharm): 81 / 24Nichi-Iko: 77 / 29Takeda: 76 / 10Johnson & Johnson: 75 / 19Neuraxpharm: 75 / 19Novartis: 70 / 32Bayer: 68 / 17Biomed: 64 / 21Daiichi Sankyo: 59 / 18Orifarm: 59 / 40Medochemie: 56 / 14Pharmascience: 51 / 32Marcan: 51 / 16Doc Generici: 50 / 25B. Braun: 49 / 17AA Pharma: 46 / 26H E: 46 / 15Octapharma: 42 / 6Jv E: 42 / 1Kyowa Pharmaceutical: 42 / 16Novo Nordisk: 41 / 8Odan: 41 / 31Aspen: 41 / 13Sterop: 41 / 16Nipro: 41 / 17Dr. Reddy's: 40 / 24Organon: 40 / 20Laboratoire Riva: 40 / 23Kern Pharma: 40 / 30Bausch Health: 39 / 30Bracco: 38 / 6G.L.: 38 / 13Tatsumi Kagaku: 38 / 24Otsuka: 37 / 4Eli Lilly: 37 / 12Piramal Critical: 35 / 13Imuna Pharm: 35 / 4AbbVie: 34 / 15Medical Valley: 34 / 8Orion: 34 / 24Rowex: 34 / 19Takata Pharmaceutical: 33 / 17Aristo: 32 / 16Norgine: 32 / 3Gedeon Richter: 31 / 11Eql: 31 / 9Guerbet: 30 / 5Lukas Heil-Betriebsst: 30 / 0Roche: 29 / 14Omega: 29 / 18Bgp: 29 / 18Holsten -: 29 / 3Menarini: 29 / 17Paladin: 28 / 17Grifols: 28 / 9Ge: 28 / 6Merck & Co. (MSD): 27 / 14Ferring: 27 / 7Essential: 4 / 4Essential

Further right: more products short. Higher: more different medicines affected.

Medicines short

MedicineWhere this company is shortProductsEarliest startMain reasonShort anywhere
Apraclonidine11 Jun 2026Increased demand1/16
Colistin11 Apr 2025Other6/16
Haloperidol114 Oct 2026Manufacturing problem4/16
Methylergometrine11 Oct 2026Manufacturing problem1/16

Shortage data describes supply, not company finances. A shortage can mean lost sales for the supplier or extra demand for its competitors. Nothing here is investment advice; tickers are for identification only and may be out of date.