The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's (MHRA) Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU) has seized a quantity of suspected unlicensed medical
products including unlicensed versions of Botox, numbing agents and dermal fillers in Bolton, Greater Manchester.
Officers from the MHRA and Greater Manchester Police conducted a raid across nine addresses in Bolton, Westhoughton and Leigh in the early hours of Thursday
13 July 2023, where two women and a man were arrested.
Andy Morling, MHRA Deputy Director of Criminal Enforcement said: "Medicines like these are powerful and dangerous in the wrong hands, potentially leading to
serious adverse health consequences. The criminals trading in these products are not only breaking the law, they also have no regard for your safety.
It is illegal to advertise, sell or supply medicines such as these without the appropriate authorisation. If you see these products, or any other powerful
medicines, being sold on social media or elsewhere online, think. It's unlikely to be legitimate. You can help the MHRA take action by reporting concerns
to us through our Yellow Card scheme.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has reminded healthcare professionals prescribing aripiprazole to alert patients about its
possible side effects, following a rise in the number of reports of gambling disorder associated with the drug.
Patients taking aripiprazole, which is used for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, are at risk of developing unusual urges or cravings that they
cannot resist, including behaviours such as addictive gambling, excessive eating or spending, or an abnormally high sex drive.
The regulator has received 69 reports of gambling or gambling disorder suspected to be caused by aripiprazole in the last 14 years via the Yellow Card Scheme, out
of which 32 were received between 1 January and 31 August this year.
Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer, said: "The number of reports for suspected gambling and other impulsive behaviours associated with aripiprazole are small
in comparison to the frequency with which it is prescribed, but the consequences for any patient developing these conditions can be significant."
AstraZeneca UK has revised the expiry dates for certain batches of Fluenz Tetra nasal spray vaccines as a precautionary measure, after finding that their
potency (strength) dropped faster than predicted once thawed, during routine testing.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has been informed by the manufacturer that the printed expiry date for a limited number of batches
is "incorrect."
However, the MHRA has assured patients that the affected batches are safe to use and fully effective within the amended expiry date.
If the vaccine is administered after the amended expiry date, it may be less effective in protecting against flu, it said.
The UK regulatory authority also reiterated that it "keeps the safety of medicines, including vaccines, under review, and acts where necessary to protect patients
and the public."
The Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU) of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) seized a large quantity of suspected illegally
traded medicines, including powerful prescription-only medicines, during raids conducted at two residential and two business premises across North Manchester.
Officers from the MHRA and Greater Manchester Police carried out searches across two residential addresses in Oldham and Cheetham in the early hours of
Wednesday (29 November), and arrested a man in his 20s on "suspicion of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs, breaches of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012
and money laundering."
They also seized thousands of illegal medicines from two business addresses in Bury and Miles Platting, including powerful opioid painkillers and antidepressants,
as well as unlicensed versions of erectile dysfunction drugs.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) confirmed that Ozempic has been found at two UK wholesalers on 18 October.
The pre-filled falsely labelled pens have been purchased from legitimate suppliers in Austria and Germany.
However, there has been no evidence that fake Ozempic has been supplied to UK patients.
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer spoke about closely with regulatory partners to ensure patients' safety.
He said: "Buying semaglutide from illegally trading online suppliers significantly increases the risk of getting a product either falsified or not licensed for
use in the UK.
"Products purchased in this way will not meet our strict quality and safety standards, and taking such medicines may put your health at risk," he added.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on Monday (29 January 2024) approved the medicine Rezzayo (rezafungin) to treat invasive
candidiasis, an infection caused by a yeast called Candida.
Invasive candidiasis can pose a serious health risk as it can affect the blood, heart, brain, eyes, bones and other parts of the body.
Napp Pharmaceuticals Ltd was granted the marketing authorisation for the medicine based on phase 3 clinical trial data.
In the randomised, double-blind, controlled study, more than half of the invasive candidiasis patients who were given a weekly dose of rezafungin were cured at
day 14.
Among 94 patients who were given a daily dose of caspofungin (another antifungal treatment), 57 of them were cured during the same time.