Tomudex (Raltitrexed) Shortage in Canada: Current Status
Quick answer
Tomudex (raltitrexed 2mg/vial, Pfizer Canada) was escalated to a Tier 3 shortage in September 2026, with Pfizer citing a manufacturing-related supply gap expected to run from late September 2026 through March 2027. Check the current status for DIN 02229566 directly before assuming it's resolved or still active, and if you're mid-treatment, talk to your oncology team early rather than waiting until a scheduled dose is missed.
What Tomudex is
Tomudex is the Canadian brand name for raltitrexed 2mg/vial, made by Pfizer Canada ULC — DIN 02229566. It's a chemotherapy drug used mainly to treat advanced colorectal cancer, typically given by infusion on a recurring cycle. Because it's dosed on a fixed treatment schedule rather than taken as-needed, a supply gap has a more immediate effect than it would for a maintenance medication you can space out slightly.
Why it's in shortage
Health Canada escalated raltitrexed to a Tier 3 shortage — the highest-impact category, reserved for drugs with limited or no alternatives where a shortage could significantly affect the healthcare system — in September 2026. Pfizer reported a manufacturing-related disruption, with a supply gap anticipated to run from late September 2026 through March 2027.
Check the current status, not a headline
A Tier 3 designation and an anticipated end date are both subject to change as the manufacturer updates its reporting. Check the current status for DIN 02229566 on MedShort rather than relying on a news article or this guide's publish date, especially since the anticipated window stretches several months out.
Don't delay or skip a scheduled dose on your own
If your cancer centre or pharmacy tells you Tomudex is hard to source, don't assume it's safe to push back your infusion date or skip a cycle to conserve supply — chemotherapy schedules are timed around how the drug works and how your body recovers between doses, and changing that timing on your own can affect how well the treatment works. Raise it with your oncology team as soon as you hear about a supply problem.
What your care team can do about it
For a Tier 3 chemotherapy shortage, hospitals and cancer centres typically manage supply centrally — sourcing from alternate distributors, prioritizing patients by clinical need, or switching to a different chemotherapy regimen when one is clinically appropriate. That decision belongs to your oncologist, not a pharmacist substitution at the counter. See what a Tier 3 shortage means and why it's handled differently than lower-tier shortages.
Where to check
Search Tomudex, raltitrexed, or DIN 02229566 on MedShort for the current status pulled directly from Health Canada's Drug Shortages Canada reporting system.
Related Guides
What Does a Tier 3 Drug Shortage Mean in Canada?
Tier 3 is Health Canada's most serious shortage rating, reserved for drugs with no easy alternative and high patient risk — here's what that means if your medication is rated Tier 3.
Can a Pharmacist Substitute a Medication During a Shortage?
When pharmacists in Canada can substitute a different brand or strength during a shortage, and when your prescriber needs to be involved.
What to Do When Your Medication Is in Shortage in Canada
A step-by-step guide for Canadian patients: how to check if a shortage is still active, what an estimated resolution date means, and when to talk to your pharmacist.
Latest Canadian Shortage Updates
Sources
Guide text last reviewed September 21, 2026; the shortage status shown above is pulled from Health Canada's data and refreshed hourly. MedShort.ca is an independent tracking tool and does not provide medical advice.