In a recent meeting with the head of the government's HRT Taskforce, Madelaine McTernan, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) board members gave a gist on the ongoing medicines supply issues in community pharmacy.
The meeting, which explored possible solutions to end the nationwide shortage of some Hormone Replacement Therapies, took place on Friday (May 20).
Independent contractors Reena Barai and Olivier Picard gave the so-called 'HRT tsar' an overview of the medicines supply issues in community pharmacy and discussed the new Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) which the government introduced in response to the on-going HRT disruption.
Earlier this month, the NPA attended an HRT summit organised by the Department of Health and Social Care, alongside other pharmacy bodies, wholesalers and manufacturers.
Health secretary Sajid Javid and pharmacy minister Maria Caulfield said they would be working collaboratively with manufacturers to meet demand and boost supply.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended icosapent ethyl also called Vazkepa manufactured by Amarin for adults who have cardiovascular disease with controlled LDL-C levels taking a statin.
It's final draft guidance is expected to be available on the July 20.
Nearly half a million people are expected to benefit from the first licensed treatment shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes in people with
controlled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C - sometimes called "bad" cholesterol) who are taking a statin and who have raised levels of triglycerides.
NICE said: "Clinical trial evidence suggests that for people with raised triglycerides who have LDL-C levels controlled by statins, and who have cardiovascular disease, icosapent ethyl reduces their risk of cardiovascular events by over a quarter compared with placebo.
Helen Knight, interim director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: "Icosapent ethyl is the first licensed treatment of its kind for people who are at risk of heart attacks and strokes despite well controlled LDL cholesterol because they have raised blood fats. And although lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise, can help to reduce their risk, these may not work for everyone.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has called its member to to express their views and fill out the Department of Health and Social Care's hub and
spoke survey on the proposed model of dispensing.
The Society has urged its members to fill out the survey before May 20.
RPS president Claire Anderson said: "It is vital that RPS members have their say on issue that impact you in your roles. Currently only single legal entities
can make use of this model of dispensing.
"Our survey, which opened today, seeks your views and comments and will help to inform the RPS submission to this consultation."
The consultation on the proposals to enable all community pharmacies to access hub and spoke dispensing published by the Department of Health and Social Care
(DHSC) will run for three months and will close on June 8, 2022.
DE Group, one of the UK's leading independent pharmaceutical wholesalers, has gone into administration.
Pharmacy Business has learnt that the group was put into administration on Monday (May 9), putting hundreds of jobs at risk and stoking fears of a "sudden shock"
to pharmaceutical supply chain.
A community pharmacy contractor who has done business with the wholesaler for over 20 years told Pharmacy Business: "I fear for the worst. I don't think there will
be enough supply of medicines to cope up with a surge at such a short notice."
Bharat Shah, founder and CEO of Sigma Pharmaceuticals, another leading short-line wholesaler, said the news will send shock-waves and have "a massive impact on the
market" because DE Group enjoyed a "substantial coverage and market share" in the independent pharmacy sector.
"It won't be easy for anyone to take on the extra volume as it could jeopardise their own business," he said, adding that Sigma was actively looking into expanding its own operations in the foreseeable future.
Eczema (atopic dermatitis), which affects up to 20 per cent of children, is one of the most common conditions pharmacists encounter, but don't underestimate
eczema. Generalised eczema may compromise health-related quality of life (HRQoL) more than several other chronic diseases, including asthma, epilepsy and diabetes.
Despite the impact on HRQoL, underuse of moisturisers and topical corticosteroids often leaves childhood eczema poorly controlled.
UK researchers recently reported that several factors contribute to the underuse of moisturisers and topical corticosteroids in children with eczema. For instance,
most of the 30 parents and carers interviewed felt that they had received little information about eczema.
The lack of understanding may help explain why some parents and carers expressed concerns, such as the risk of skin thinning, about topical corticosteroids. Some
were not convinced that moisturisers (strictly, an emollient is an ingredient of a moisturiser) reduced itch and maintained control of eczema. Some felt that
moisturisers' efficacy declined over time.
Parents and carers also admitted to "incomplete knowledge and skills" about managing eczema (such as whether they should apply moisturisers regularly) and
reluctance to manage eczema in collaboration with their child. Parents and carers wanted advice about using treatments and explanations of moisturisers' and
topical corticosteroids' mechanisms of action. The authors note that healthcare professionals could help identify and address gaps in knowledge.
Health technology pioneer Invatech Health has sold its care homes electronic medication administration record (eMAR) system Atlas to care home management
specialists Person Centred Software (PCS).
Following the transition of Atlas to new ownership, Bristol-based Invatech Health will concentrate solely on further growth of Titan, its cutting-edge software for pharmacy management.
Invatech Health CEO Tariq Muhammad, a pharmacist who started working on care homes back in 2002, first conceived the concept of electronic medicines system for care homes in 2006.
Muhammad said he was proud to see his purpose-driven business given an opportunity for further progress. "It's a bit like being at a child's graduation," he said,
after the completion of the acquisition which marked the end of a 20 year journey for him with Atlas.
"I set up Atlas to tackle a dire need in the care homes sector for a system which could prevent incorrect dosing, mismanagement of prescriptions and administration errors of important medication.
The Omicron variant of coronavirus is less likely to cause long Covid than previous variants, according to the first peer-reviewed study of its kind from the UK.
Researchers at King's College London, using data from nearly 100,000 people who logged their Covid symptoms via an app, found the odds of developing long Covid
after infection were 20 per cent to 50 per cent lower during the Omicron wave in the UK compared to Delta. The figure varied depending on the patient's age and the
timing of their last vaccination.
Long Covid, which includes prolonged symptoms ranging from fatigue to 'brain fog', can be debilitating and continue for weeks or months. It is increasingly being
recognised as a public health problem, and researchers have been racing to find out if Omicron presents as big a risk of long Covid as previously dominant variants.
The study from King's is believed to be the first academic research to show Omicron does not present as great a risk of long Covid, but that does not mean long
Covid patient numbers are dropping, the team said.
While the risk of long Covid was lower during Omicron, more people were infected, so the absolute number now suffering is higher.
"It's good news, but please don't decommission any of your long Covid services," lead researcher Dr Claire Steves said, appealing to health-service providers.
Smoking increases the risk of developing schizophrenia and depression, a report by academics from the University of Bristol published on 20 June claims.
It says smoking raises the risk of developing schizophrenia by between 53 per cent and 127 per cent and the risk of developing depression by from 54 per cent to
132 per cent.
The authors of the report say more research is needed to identify why this is the case and that more evidence is needed to understand its impact on other mental
health conditions such as anxiety or bipolar disorder.
The evidence, presented at the Royal College of Psychiatrist's international congress, has been shared with the government which is currently developing a new
Tobacco Control Plan for publication later this year.
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) said: "Rates of smoking are much higher among people with mental health conditions than those without, and among England's six
million smokers there are an estimated 230k smokers with severe mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder) and 1.6 million with depression
and anxiety."
Ninety-six per cent of community pharmacists surveyed in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Workforce Wellbeing survey said they were at 'risk of burnout'.
A higher number of respondents working in community pharmacy (20%) reported not being offered breaks compared to all other sectors (8%) and were more likely to
experience verbal or physical abuse from patients and the public (69% vs an average 44%).
The annual Workforce Wellbeing survey also revealed that 88 per cent of pharmacists surveyed are at high risk of burnout due to winter pressure. Therefore, RPS is
calling for workforce planning for pharmacy to address skill mix and staffing levels so that workloads can be effectively managed.
Top factors causing poor mental health and wellbeing revealed by the survey include inadequate staffing (70%), lack of work/life balance (53%), lack of protected
learning time (48%) and lack of colleague/senior support (47%).
This is the fourth survey RPS has run in partnership with the charity Pharmacist Support on the state of mental health and wellbeing in pharmacy.
The findings demonstrate continued pressure on pharmacists and trainees across the workforce, especially in community pharmacy where 96% of those surveyed said they
were at risk of burnout.
Governments should invest in vaccines for all strains of influenza virus that exist in the animal kingdom as an insurance policy in case of an outbreak in
humans, the incoming chief scientist at the World Health Organization said on Monday (Feb. 20).
Countries ranging from the United States and Britain to France and Japan have suffered record losses of poultry in outbreaks of avian flu in the past year.
The recent spread to mammals of H5N1 - commonly known as bird flu - needed to be monitored, but the risk to humans remained low, the WHO said earlier this month.
Incoming WHO chief scientist Jeremy Farrar said he would like to see the pharmaceutical industry at least conduct some clinical trials for all influenza strains such
that the world would not have to start from scratch to initiate global manufacturing should the need arise.
"My concern that we're in slow motion watching something which may never happen," he added in a media briefing. "But if it were to happen, would we look back on what
we're doing at the moment and say, why didn't we do more?"
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has introduced a new prescription pre-payment certificate (PPC) for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) which
is said to benefit around 400,000 women who suffer from negative symptoms of the menopause in England.
PPC will be rolled-out from 1 April and it reduce the HRT costs to less than £20 a year. Women prescribed HRT - the main treatment for menopause symptoms - will
have access to a new scheme enabling access to a year's worth of menopause prescription items for the cost of two single prescription charges (currently £18.70).
As part of commitments to reduce the cost of HRT for menopausal women, the prescription PPC will be valid for 12 months. It can be used against a list of HRT
prescription items, and a patient can use this against an unlimited number of HRT items, such as patches, tablets and topical preparations. There will be no limit
to how many times the certificate can be used while it is valid.
"The introduction of the certificate delivers one of our year one priorities for the Women's Health Strategy for England. Published last summer, the strategy sets
out an ambitious new agenda for improving the health and wellbeing of women and girls and to improve how the health and care system listens to women. Menopause was
announced as a priority area within the strategy," said DHSC.
The Company Chemists' Association (CCA)'s analysis on permanent closures of community pharmacies in England showed that there has been a net loss of 670
pharmacies between 2015 and 2022.
The analysis highlighted that 37 per cent of permanent closures of pharmacies and GP practices have occurred in the 20 per cent most deprived parts of England.
Current trends indicate that primary care 'cold spots' could soon emerge - areas where there is significantly reduced or inadequate access to a pharmacy or a GP.
The CCA's analysis shows that some of the most deprived neighbourhoods concentrated in the North West, the West Midlands and Yorkshire have faced the highest losses
of local pharmacies and GP practices since 2015.
It demonstrates that the trend of permanent closures amongst pharmacies and GP practices is worsening. Moreover, this burden is likely to be felt unevenly with
permanent closures occurring disproportionately in areas of high deprivation. Without action, deprived communities, where need is typically greater, may no longer
be able to access the GP and pharmacy services they require.
According to Alzheimer's Disease International, more than 55 million people worldwide will have Alzheimer's disease by 2020. This figure will nearly double
every 20 years, reaching 78 million in 2030 and 139 million in 2050.
The WHO Global Status Report for 2021 estimated the yearly global cost of dementia to be more than USD 1.3 trillion, with a projected increase to USD 2.8 trillion
by 2030.
To date most drugs developed to treat Alzheimer's disease have failed, largely because they target wrong biomarkers and individuals already exhibiting signs of the
disease. Once symptoms appear, however, many brain cells responsible for memory and cognition are likely already damaged and beyond repair.
Professor Shai Rahimipour in the Chemistry Department at Bar-Ilan University in Israel has pioneered a different approach utilizing theranostics to pinpoint and
treat the earliest, pre-symptomatic signs of Alzheimer's disease. Showing promise in stopping progression of the disease before onset of irreversible brain cell
damage, Rahimipour's groundbreaking approach has garnered significant attention in the scientific world.
Amgen Inc on Monday agreed to buy Horizon Therapeutics Plc in a deal valued at $27.8 billion (£22.67bn), fortifying its rare diseases portfolio in the biggest
buyout in the sector this year.
The company will pay $116.50 in cash, a premium of nearly 20 per cent to the stock's last close, for each Horizon share.
Horizon shares closed up 15 per cent on Monday at $112.36. They had climbed 23.5 per cent through Friday since the company disclosed in late November it was in
preliminary talks with Amgen, Sanofi and Johnson & Johnson for potential offers. Amgen shares dipped less than 1 per cent to close at $276.78.
Sanofi said Sunday it ended discussions with Horizon after concluding the transaction prices "do not meet our value criteria."
J&J also said in early December that it had dropped its pursuit of the deal.
British pharmaceutical giant GSK said on Saturday (April 15) its oral antibiotic drug to treat uncomplicated urinary tract infections (uUTI) in female adults
and adolescents met the main goals in late-stage trials.
The drug, gepotidacin, in phase III trials, met its primary goals of being on a par or better than nitrofurantoin, the current standard of care for the treatment of
uUTIs, the company said.
GSK plans to submit results of the trials to the United States Food and Drug Administration for review later in the second quarter.
The drug, if approved, could become the first new type of antibiotic, which is critically important for countering drug-resistant infections, to treat uUTIs in 20
years, the company said.
"Gepotidacin, if approved, will offer a much-needed additional oral treatment option for patients at risk of treatment failure associated with resistance or
recurrence of uUTI," Chris Corsico, senior vice president of development at GSK, said.
John Dawson, the founder and former CEO of Alliance Pharma, has donated £5million to the University of Sunderland towards the creation of a new drug
research centre.
The donation - the biggest in the university's history - will create the John Dawson Drug Discovery and Development Research Institute to improve health and
wellbeing of millions of people worldwide.
The new centre has been named after the pharmaceutical entrepreneur and Sunderland graduate who, alongside wife Sam, has provided the funding.
He and Sam were on Thursday (April 20) joined by specially invited guests from across the region's health, education, and business communities, to launch the
Institute housed in the University's Sciences Complex.
Unveiling a plaque inside the building, John said: "It's an absolute honour and privilege to be able to launch the new Drug Discovery and Development Research
Institute at the University of Sunderland today.
"It's been wonderful to be back on the campus and see the incredible developments that have taken place since I studied pharmacy here more than 50 years ago.
"I was immediately impressed at what has been achieved in that intervening half-century and I've been delighted to assist the University continue its development,
particularly in the health arena.
"I hope the launch of this institute will mark the next phase in the University's evolution and I'm very much looking forward to working with the team as they bring
their projects to fruition."
Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting outlined his plans for NHS reform on Friday (21 April), where he also mentioned a desire to see pharmacies take on more
workload and pharmacists' clinical skills to be better utilised.
In his speech, he also expressed concern at warnings from the pharmacy sector and pharmacy closures.
The Company Chemists' Association (CCA) appreciated Shadow Health Secretary's desire to enhance pharmacies' role in primary care reform but also stated that the
sector is in urgently needs a funding injection.
Dr. Nick Thayer, Head of Policy at the Company Chemists' Association (CCA) comment: "We are pleased to see the Shadow Health Secretary recognise the enhanced role
that pharmacies should play in primary care reform.
Mr Streeting wants to see care brought closer to people's homes and more front doors into the NHS. With 89.2% of the population located within a 20-minute walk of
a pharmacy, pharmacies do just that. They are essential to realising his vision of a 'neighbourhood health service'.
Pharmacies could free up over 42m GP appointments annually, including 10m vaccination appointments.
Urgent same-day appointments for minor conditions in pharmacies will immediately benefit patients by increasing GP access. The first step is for the Government to
immediately commission a fully-funded Pharmacy First service in England.
A BBC investigation has found 20 UK online pharmacies selling prescription-only medicines without adhering to the regulatory standards, such as checking
for GP approval or patient's medical records.
The news organisation was able to purchase over 1,600 restricted pills, including anti-anxiety drug, painkiller and sleeping medication, from these regulated
online pharmacies easily by providing false information.
However, the report didn't mention the names of the drugs as "they can be dangerous when taken without medical guidance."
Some pharmacies were also found selling high-risk and potentially addictive medicines, including benzodiazepines and antidepressants, based on online questionnaires
and did not require further checks.
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), which regulate online pharmacies in the UK, states that selling and supplying medicines at a distance brings
"different risks which need to be appropriately managed to protect patient safety."
Britain has declined to sign the World Health Organization's (WHO) proposed pandemic accord, citing concerns over the redistribution of vaccines, as
reported by The Telegraph on Tuesday.
The accord aims to ensure fair distribution of resources during global health crises, including reserving 20 per cent of tests, treatments, and vaccines for
distribution in poorer nations.
According to media reports the Department of Health and Social Care stated that they would only support the adoption of the accord if it aligns with the national
interest and respects sovereignty.
However, a DHSC spokesperson refrained from detailing the specific proposals within the accord, emphasising that no agreements had been reached yet.
The WHO has not yet responded to requests for comment on this matter.
The UK government on Thursday (8 May) launched a new plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global issue that makes infections difficult or
impossible to treat.
This is the second phase of a series of 5-year national action plans, aimed at supporting the government's 20-year vision to contain and control AMR by 2040.
With the launch of this new national action plan, the UK commits to reducing its use of antimicrobials - such as antibiotics, antifungals and antivirals - in
humans and animals.
Additionally, it aims to strengthen surveillance of drug-resistant infections before they emerge and incentivise industry to develop the next generation of treatments.
There are also plans to expand initiatives such as the world-first 'subscription model' for antimicrobials, launched in 2019 as a pilot.
