The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday it is seeking new suppliers to ease shortages of methotrexate, one of the most commonly used cancer drugs, building on its push to shore up two other scarce chemotherapy medicines. An FDA spokesperson told Reuters the agency is looking for temporary importation options for the drug, which has been in shortage since March. Methotrexate is an injected drug used to treat a wide variety of cancers ranging from acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children, breast cancer, lung cancer, bone cancers and certain types of head and neck cancers, according to the National Cancer Institute. Last week, the FDA said it was looking for additional temporary suppliers for two other cancer chemotherapies, cisplatin and carboplatin. According to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, suppliers with methotrexate injections in shortage or on back order include Accord Healthcare, Fresenius Kabi, Pfizer , Teva and Hikma Pharmaceuticals .

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Persons: Methotrexate, cisplatin, China's, Senators Gary Peters, Debbie Stabenow, Fresenius Kabi Organizations: . Food, Drug Administration, FDA, Reuters, National Cancer Institute, Pharmaceutical, U.S, Senators, Intas Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, American Society of Health, System Pharmacists, Accord Healthcare, Pfizer, Teva, Hikma Pharmaceuticals Locations: United States, India, U.S