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The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC)'s 2022 Pharmacy Advice Audit revealed that more than 1.2 million consultations a week - or 65 million a year - are now being carried out by community pharmacy teams in England. This is an increase from 2021, when the audit results suggested that in total pharmacies were providing 58 million consultations per year. PSNC has published the findings of the audit of over 4,000 community pharmacies carried out earlier this year. During the audit, 82,872 informal patient consultations were recorded, with the average pharmacy completing 19 consultations per day. This suggests that more than 1.2 million informal consultations are taking place in community pharmacies in England every week. The audit helped to quantify the number of informal referrals being made to pharmacies by GPs and NHS 111, with 7,774 informal patient referrals into pharmacy coming from these routes; grossed up to a national level that means 117,000 cases per week. These are all referrals that could and should have been made by the NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS).

Pharmacists globally are broadening their roles to support self-care, aiming to enhance patient health outcomes through increased contributions and proactive behaviours, according to a new report. However, significant barriers, including inadequate funding and limited access to patient records, impede the optimisation of self-care activities and outcomes improvement in this area, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) said in its report. The FIP report, titled 'Community Pharmacy Insights: Supporting the Need for Self-Care,' gathers insights from 238 respondents across 55 countries with the aim of providing evidence-based policy support for workforce development. Nearly all respondents (93.2 per cent) indicated that pharmacists should actively engage in providing self-care support, FIP said. Furthermore, 48.9 per cent supported the involvement of pharmacy technicians, while 39.2 per cent endorsed the participation of pharmacy assistants and other team members in offering self-care support.

GlaxoSmithKline on Tuesday (May 31) snapped up US biopharmaceutical firm Affinivax for up to $3.3 billion, expanding further into vaccines before the demerger of its consumer health care arm. The London-listed company has agreed to pay $2.1 billion upfront and up to $1.2 billion in potential development milestones for Affinivax. "GSK plc today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Affinivax, Inc," it said in a statement. "Affinivax is pioneering the development of a novel class of vaccines, the most advanced of which are next-generation pneumococcal vaccines," it added. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based firm specialises in vaccines for diseases including meningitis, pneumonia and bloodstream infections. "The proposed acquisition further strengthens our vaccines research and development (R&D) pipeline, provides access to a new, potentially disruptive technology, and broadens GSK's existing scientific footprint in the Boston area," said GSK's chief scientific officer Hal Barron.

Community pharmacy teams in England have broken all previous records by a distance and delivered nearly five million flu jabs in the past season. They have administered over 2.08 million more flu vaccinations under the national programme during 2021-22 than the previous year, which is a a 75 increase, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee has reported. According to latest data published by the NHS Business Services Authority in its Advanced Service Flu report community pharmacy has administered 4.85 million vaccinations under the national Flu Vaccination Service in 2021-22. The total number of vaccines administered in community pharmacies in 2020-21 was 2.77 million. Commenting on the end-of-season figures, PSNC chief executive Janet Morrison said: "I am thoroughly impressed to hear it confirmed that community pharmacy has had another record-breaking year of flu vaccination provision. The ability of pharmacy teams to deliver the healthcare services that communities need, despite the challenges and pressures this winter, is simply phenomenal.

The Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has expressed disappointment at the omission, once again, of the promised Employment Rights Bill omitted from the Queen's Speech earlier this week. The Bill is pledged to strengthen day one employment rights and increase the productivity of businesses. It set out plans which would protect and enhance workers' rights and aim to make the UK the best place in the world to work at. This included plans to introduce the right to request flexible working for around 2.2 million people in Great Britain - regardless of time served in a bid to modernise the way employees work. The PDA said: "The Employment Rights Bill would have presented an opportunity to improve the ability for workers to obtain redress in the event of poor treatment or discrimination through the development of a single labour market enforcement body. "Poor employment practices, such as insecure work through long-term zero-hours contracts, unilaterally changing workers' terms and conditions by terminating their contracts and re-hiring them on new terms and conditions (also known as fire and rehire), and the sacking of workers without notice, as recently demonstrated by P & O Ferries, could have been outlawed under new legislation."

Esperion Therapeutics' non-statin therapy "bempedoic acid" has shown modest results in reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events in statin-intolerant patients in the cholesterol lowering via bempedoic acid, an ACL-inhibiting regimen (CLEAR Outcomes) trial, revealed GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. As a result, there is substantial room for improvement in this space as a potential approval is expected in Australia in near-term based on these results, said GlobalData. According to GlobalData's Pharmaceutical Intelligence Center, the total number of diagnosed prevalent cases of dyslipidemia in Australia is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 1.2% from 5.2 million in 2022 to 5.4 million in 2025. Neha Myneni, Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, comments: "Bempedoic acid joins several statin alternatives that have shown the potential to reduce cardiac illnesses. However, with not much significant improvement in the outcomes, there exists a clear room for improvement for non-statin therapies in this space." Bempedoic acid is the sixth class of cholesterol-lowering drugs (other than cholesteryl-ester transfer protein isoform (CETPi) inhibitors), that has demonstrated the potential to reduce heart attacks and strokes. Other class of therapies with similar potential currently marketed in Australia include statins, bile acid resins, niacin, ezetimibe, and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors (alirocumab, evolocumab, and inclisiran).

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has suggested that the Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV) vaccine that offers protection to children against flu may also help reduce the rate of group A strep infections. LAIV is a nasal spray offered each season to most children aged 2 and 3 years old, and to school-aged children, to help protect against flu. The new study looked back at data from 2013 to 2017, comparing rates of group A strep (GAS) infections in pilot areas and comparing them to other areas where the vaccine was not being offered as widely. It was found that incidence of GAS was lower in pilot areas where the LAIV vaccine was being offered to all primary school children, compared to areas where it was being incrementally rolled out. The study revealed, in 2 to 4 year olds, rates of GAS were 73.5 per 100,000 children in pilot areas, compared to 93 per 100,000 children in non-pilot areas. In 5 to 10 year olds, rates of GAS were 50.3 per 100,000 children in pilot areas, compared to 57.8 per 100,000 in non-pilot areas.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued an alert to update healthcare professionals on the shortage of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), which are used to treat type 2 diabetes. It has informed that the supply of the drugs continues to be limited, and is not expected to return to normal until at least the end of 2024. An increase in demand for these products for licensed and off-label indications is cited as the cause of the supply issues. "Rybelsus® (semaglutide) tablets are now available in sufficient quantities to support initiation of GLP1 RA treatment in people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in whom new initiation of GLP-1 RA therapy would be clinically appropriate," the DHSC's National Patient Safety Alert reads.

The Medicines and Health products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on Thursday issued a class 4 medicines defect information notice for Cozaar 100mg film-coated tablets due to an error in the Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) reported by the company. Cozaar is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) as well as to slow the progression of kidney disease in people who have type 2 diabetes mellitus. Quadrant Pharmaceuticals Ltd has informed the UK regulatory authority that the PILs that have been packed in certain batches of the products do not have the most up to date safety information. 'Grapefruit juice should be avoided while taking Cozaar'- This information is missing in Section 2 'What you need to know before you take Cozaar', sub section 'Cozaar with food and drink', the company clarified.

The National Health Service (NHS) on Monday launched a new national campaign to find the 'missing millions' who could be living with undiagnosed high blood pressure, often described as a 'silent killer'. People are being warned that the condition rarely has any symptoms and it can lead to fatal heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and vascular dementia, if left untreated. According to the NHS, high blood pressure affects an estimated 32 per cent of adults and approximately three in 10 of these remain undiagnosed, equating to 4.2 million people in England. The NHS has expanded blood pressure checks in community pharmacies to include 2.5 million more tests as part of the Pharmacy First programme. With the 'Get Your Blood Pressure Checked' campaign, the health service is encouraging those aged 40 years and over to get a free blood pressure test at a participating pharmacy, for which they don't need to be booked in advance. Health Minister Andrea Leadsom expressed confidence that this new drive will help to prevent the potentially "fatal consequences" of untreated high blood pressure. She urged people to go to their local pharmacy to get their blood pressure checked, stating that it could be a "lifesaving trip."

Responding to a new National Audit Office (NAO) report that indicated that NHS England's Long Term Workforce Plan (LTWP) needs improvements, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has expressed concerns that the plan may not adequately address the needs of GPs. Published in June 2023, the workforce plan estimated that the NHS's health workforce will need to grow from 1.4m full-time equivalent (FTE) staff in 2021-22 to between 2.3m and 2.4m FTE workers in 2036-37, an increase of 65 per cent to 72 per cent. However, the NAO report highlighted that the workforce modelling has significant weaknesses, including a complex design; manual adjustments; optimistic future assumptions and limited public communication of their uncertainty; and modelling outputs that could not be fully replicated. To improve the modelling, the report recommended exploring the uncertainty of these assumptions and considering potential outcomes if they do not materialize as expected. Additionally, it suggested including full integration of the different parts of the modelling pipeline to minimise manual adjustments.

"Anything is possible with focused strength, resilience and determination" said Bhavin Shah, Financial Director at Sigma Pharmaceuticals plc, after completing the annual London Marathon. Shah donned his running gear and completed the 26.2 mile route in a commendable time of 5 hours and 33 minutes, all in support of 'Team George', a cause initiated by his close friend, Jonathan Bracey, who is the EVP of corporate development at Tanner Pharma Group. Bracey started the crowdfunding initiative last year after his 2-year-old son George was diagnosed with a rare cancer (rhabdomyosarcoma) on his liver/bile duct. Sigma Pharmaceuticals directors and staff have played a vital part in helping raise over £52,000 over the last 6 months for 'Team George', which included the London Marathon Charity run on Sunday 21 April 2024. The funds will be donated to four charities that have been instrumental in George's path to overcoming cancer - Rays of Sunshine ward at Kings College Hospital Charity, St Mary's Hospital, Alice's Arc and Great Ormond Street Hospital. For over three months, Shah had been training himself physically and mentally for the marathon run to support his friend's initiative. He joined Bracey in the marathon, along with more than 50,000 other competitors.

Eli Lilly's weight-loss medicine Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, will be available in the UK within weeks as a four-dose pre-filled injection pen. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved the drug to treat adults with type 2 diabetes and for weight management in obese patients. Branded as Mounjaro KwikPen, the injection is to be used together with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, the regulator said. "The public health importance of safe and effective treatments to help manage diabetes and obesity, which can have a significant impact on people's health, is clear. "This approval enables access to the approved Mounjaro pen in a more convenient presentation of a month's treatment, of one dose per week," said Julian Beach, MHRA Interim Executive Director, Healthcare Quality and Access.

Customs officials at Mundra port in Gujarat's Kutch district, India, recently seized approximately 6.8 million Tramadol tablets valued at Rs 110 crore (around GBP 10.2 million). The tablets were discovered in two export containers bound for Sierra Leone and Niger in West Africa. Tramadol, an opioid pain medication, was classified as a psychotropic substance under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act) in 2018 and its export is now restricted. This synthetic opioid drug has gained notoriety in recent times as the "Fighter Drug" after it was reported that ISIS fighters used it to stay awake for long hours, said a PIB release on Monday. It is reportedly in high demand in African nations like Nigeria, Ghana, etc. The Mundra Customs seizure is one of the largest seizures of Tramadol since it was notified under the NDPS Act, said the release.

New Lamotrigine Desitin 10mg/ml Oral Suspension is the first licensed Lamotrigine oral liquid medicine available in the UK, offering simple, accurate and flexible dosing for vulnerable patient groups with epilepsy and bi-polar disorder. Accurate dosing and slow titration are essential when initially prescribing for patients with epilepsy. This helps minimise the risk of potentially life-threatening side effects such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (an acute, rare, and occasionally fatal skin reaction). Dose escalation is required every 2 weeks until the optimal dose is achieved to reach the desired maintenance level. Lamotrigine Desitin 10mg/ml Oral Suspension helps simplify complex prescribing and dispensing regimes, as all dosing requirements are covered in a single product. The supplied dosing syringe and cup make it simple for patients to use and carers to administer. The licensed Oral Suspension is likely to be of benefit when prescribing for children (over 2 years), older people (particularly patients with dysphagia) and also those with learning disabilities. The 10mg/ml strength simplifies accurate dosing for children and offers complete flexibility when dosing is based on mg/kg body weight.

The National Health Service(NHS) has reported a record number of attendances at Accident & Emergency (A&E) departments and emergency admissions for any June, reflecting significant pressure on healthcare services amidst hot weather and recent strikes by junior doctors. Last month, hospitals across the UK handled over 2.29 million A&E attendances and more than 536,884 emergency admissions, marking increases of 3.1 per cent and 7.2 per cent respectively compared to the previous year. Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, acknowledged the strain on frontline teams: "Frontline teams are continuing to work exceptionally hard under significant pressure to provide the best care they can for patients."

GSK has received approval from FDA for its Tanzeum subcutaneous injection to improve glycemic control, along with diet and exercise, in adult patients with type 2 diabetes.

GSK is helping pharmacists to tap into Self Care Week this November, and remind patients how they can adopt a more proactive approach in looking after their health. This includes treating ailments, such as joint pain, over the counter to take pressure off GPs where possible. Joint pain complaints take up a significant amount of general practice resource with 57 per cent of pain presentations reported relating to joint pain[1], as well as 23 per cent of sufferers feeling as though their pain impacts their quality of life[2]. Many of these complaints and ailments could be addressed with treatment recommendations from a pharmacist with support from Voltarol. GSK, manufacturer of Voltarol (the market leader in the pain relief topic category[3]), offers support through both its products and resources in hopes to advocate over-the-counter treatments.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has included Tibolone 2.5mg tablets (Livial) and Prasterone 6.5mg pessaries (Intrarosa) to the list of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). It has updated the June 2023 Drug Tariff (Part XVI) to include these additional HRT medicines for which patients will be able to purchase an HRT PPC. "HRT is the replacement of female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone in women to control symptoms of the menopause. Some medicines that are converted or break down into oestrogen, progestogen or androgen hormones are prescribed for relief of menopausal symptoms. For the purposes of the HRT PPC these are included within this definition of HRT," said DHSC.