The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended first new treatment - 'romosozumab' for osteoporosis for over a decade.
Thousands of people in England and Wales with severe osteoporosis who are at high risk of fracture are set to benefit from a new treatment - romosozumab - after
NICE published the final draft guidance.
Over 20,000 people could be eligible for the treatment according to the company. Clinical trial evidence showed that romosozumab (also known as EVENITY and made by
UCB) followed by alendronic acid is more effective at reducing the risk of fractures than alendronic acid alone.
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become thin and fragile. Many people with osteoporosis show no symptoms, but they may be at increased risk of fracture.
Osteoporosis leads to nearly 9 million fractures around the world each year, and over 300,000 people per year attend hospitals in the UK with fractures caused by
osteoporosis.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is considering the reclassification of Aquiette 2.5mg tablets contains oxybutynin hydrochloride that is used to treat women with milder symptoms of overactive bladder from Prescription-Only-Medicine (POM) to Pharmacy (P) medicine.
The agency is encouraging pharmacists, GPs and other health care professionals, the public and women to take part in the reclassification consultation to make a
treatment for overactive bladder available for women without the need for a prescription.
Public consultation on a set of proposals to make Aquiette 2.5mg Tablets (oxybutynin hydrochloride) available from pharmacies will close on 13 May, 2022.
It would be the first time a medicine for the treatment of overactive bladder would be available without prescription, if the reclassification consultation receives positive responses.
After the decision is made to reclassify this treatment, pharmacists will have access to training materials and a checklist to enable them to identify women who can be supplied this medicine safely.
Researchers from the University of Oxford today (December 8) started recruiting for a clinical trial to test novel antiviral Covid-19 treatments for early use in the illness by people in the community and those who are at higher risk of complications.
Partnering with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), colleagues in several UK universities, and the NHS UK-wide, the Platform Adaptive trial of NOvel antiviRals for eArly treatMent of Covid-19 In the Community (PANORAMIC), is a national priority trial, and will be open to participants from across the UK.
The first treatment to be tested by the UK Antiviral Taskforce will be molnupiravir, a Covid antiviral pill already licensed by the MHRA.
Britain became the first country in the world to approve molnupiravir, which was jointly developed by U.S.-based Merck & Co Inc and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, in November.
Carolyn Harris, Labour MP for Swansea East and co-chair of the Menopause Taskforce, has raised concerns over overcharging of HRT medicines by some online pharmacies, The Telegraph reports.
Carolyn, according to the newspaper, has claimed that some HRT products are being sold online for up to "three times as much as they're worth".
She has also accused the companies of "profiteering" from HRT shortage.
Carolyn has vowed to raise this issue in parliament and will also ensure that health secretary Sajid Javid is aware. She also intends to write to Javid to make sure he is up to date with the alleged "profiteering" taking place.
"Get your act together, this is just exploitation. Anybody who thought it was a good idea to hike the price up because there was a shortage… it's awful, it's just complete profiteering, and making a profit off the back of somebody's desperation is never a good look," she told The Telegraph.
The UK pharmaceutical industry experienced a substantial increase in public trust and favourability during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new poll.
This trend appears to be persisting with the study showing a generally favourable view of the sector.
The recent survey, conducted by Ipsos and commissioned by Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), represents the third instalment in a series
that began in 2021. This ongoing study targets members of the public, healthcare professionals, and parliamentarians.
The study once again underscored a favourable perception of the sector with 67 per cent of respondents recognising that the pharmaceutical industry produces safe
and effective medicines using cutting-edge technologies. Moreover, a majority agrees that it is a highly innovative field.
Seven out of 10 people also trust the sector's readiness to address future pandemics, even as media attention on pharmaceutical companies returns to pre-pandemic
levels. However, concerns arise regarding limitations in accessing new medicines due to cost pressures.
A couple in Maidenhead, Berkshire has been handed suspended sentence for illegal possession and supply of £1.6m of unlicensed medicines.
Following investigations initiated by the MHRA, Karina Filimonova and Andrejs Stolarovs were caught with the unlicensed medicines which included prescription-only
medications. Southwark Crown Court sentenced each "to eight months imprisonment suspended for 18 months and 150 hours unpaid work" for possessing and intending to
supply medicinal products contrary to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.
"This was a sophisticated operation illegally bringing unlicensed medicines into the UK from Singapore and India, and then distributing them across the country and
abroad," said Andy Morling, MHRA Deputy Director of Criminal Enforcement. "Criminals trading in medicines illegally like this are not only breaking the law, but
they also have no regard for your safety. These are powerful medicines that can lead to serious adverse health consequences if taken without appropriate medical
supervision."
In 2020, the Royal Mail Group (RMG) informed the MHRA about parcels containing unlicensed medicines discovered during their investigation into suspicious parcel
activity. Following this, the MHRA's Criminal Enforcement Unit, in cooperation with local police, launched an investigation and apprehended the couple at their
residence in Kidwells Close, Maidenhead.
Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has explained MPs on instability that puts operational pressures on pharmacies, financial pressures on businesses at a
Parliamentary drop-in event held on Monday (10 July).
The association has been in Parliament today alongside patient representatives and others to highlight our ongoing concerns about medicines supply to MPs.
It said: "Medicines supply remains a critical issue for community pharmacies with disruption causing problems both accessing medicines and procuring them cost
effectively."
In CPE's recent sector polling, community pharmacy owners rated medicines supply instability as being the most severe pressure facing their businesses. This
echoed the results of CPE's Pressures Survey which found 97% of pharmacy owners survey are facing significant increases in wholesaler and medicine supply issues,
with 71% saying this was leading to delays in prescriptions being issued.
During the Parliamentary drop-in event, CPE talked MPs through the issues and set out what it believe needs to happen to resolve them, calling for- Reform of
Serious Shortage Protocols; Allowing generic substitution; An overhaul of the concessions system; and a strategic Government review of medicine supply and pricing
with a shift to focusing on how to improve the functioning of the supply chain rather than solely on the drive to depress prices and margins.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has launched a consultation on the reclassification of codeine linctus to a prescription-only
medicine after considering multiple Yellow Card reports for its opioid effects, rather than for its intended use as a cough suppressant.
This medication is currently licensed as a pharmacy medicine, which means that it is available to purchase over the counter in pharmacies. If reclassified as a
prescription-only medicine, all strengths of codeine linctus will only be available upon presentation of a prescription.
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer, said: "Codeine linctus is an effective medicine, but as it is an opioid, its misuse and abuse can have major health
consequences.
Every response received will help us to develop a broader view on whether codeine linctus should be restricted to prescription-only status.
We want to hear from members of the public, health professionals and others who would be affected by this potential change so we can make a properly considered
decision for the benefit of patients, carers, and healthcare professionals across the UK.
The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has reminded Community pharmacy contractors to ensure that the correct flu vaccines are being used for
each patient cohort.
The pharmacies have also been asked to ensure that they recorded accurately in the patient's clinical record for the NHS Flu Vaccination Service.
The move was followed by PSNC after the cases where the standard egg-cultured quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIVe) was administered in the 65 years and over patient
cohort.
PSNC said: "On investigation, it appears that a number of these errors are due to data input errors; however, it is important to be careful when selecting a flu
vaccine for this patient cohort as there is no provision for the use of the QIVe vaccine in patients aged 65 years and over in the NHS Flu Vaccination Service."
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has advised it is not an effective intervention for patients aged 65 years and over.
Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca will acquire biotechnology company Neogene Therapeutics for up to $320 million, the London-listed drugmaker said on Tuesday
(November 29) as it seeks to build its pipeline of cell-based cancer treatments.
Though AstraZeneca's oncology portfolio accounted for more than a third of the company's revenue last year, it does not have an approved cell-based cancer therapy
and is behind rivals such as Novartis and Gilead.
"Neogene's leading (T-cell receptor) discovery capabilities and extensive manufacturing experience complement the cell therapy capability we have built over the
last three years," said Susan Galbraith, AstraZeneca's executive vice president of oncology research.
Cell-based treatments are a relatively new approach to treating cancer, most of which involve drawing the body's own immune cells and processing them in the lab to
target and kill cancer cells.
Neogene's approach goes one step further in that its experimental T-cell receptor therapies seek to target DNA mutations specific to tumours, not only certain
proteins on the surface of cancer cells.
Community pharmacy bodies have said that the current crippling financial pressures and severe staff shortages will limit the sector from fully supporting the
new health secretary's ambition to improve patient care in England.
Thérèse Coffey announced her plans on Thursday (September 22) which would be looking to reduce the country's reliance on general practice by expanding the range of
services available from community pharmacies and allowing pharmacists more "prescribing powers".
"Pharmacists will be able to manage and supply more medicines, without a prescription from a GP. We will look to go further on enabling pharmacists with more
prescribing powers and making more simple diagnostic tests available in community pharmacy," she said in her foreword to Our Plan for Patients.
However, the National Pharmacy Association has lamented that the plan stops short of promising any fresh funding for community pharmacies to deliver patient care
and develop clinical services.
NPA vice-chair, Nick Kaye, said: "The life is being choked out of independent pharmacy businesses by the continuation of a fundamentally under-resourced contract
in England.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) 300mg and 600mg tablets on
Wednesday (14 June).
It has notified that the Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) 300mg tablets will be out of stock from late June 2023 until mid-July 2023 and Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) 600mg
tablets are out of stock until mid-July 2023.
However, generic oxcarbazepine 300mg and 600mg tablets remain available and will be able to support increased demand.
"Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) 150mg tablets and generic oxcarbazepine 150mg tablets remain available but cannot support the increase in demand," said DHSC.
"Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) 60mg/ml oral suspension remains available but cannot meet an increase in demand."
Morning friends,today i would like to stress on the importance of screening programmes for early detection of cervical cancer.Cervical cancer is perhaps the most common female genital tract cancer in the developing countries
MD Anderson Cancer Center and Ascentage Pharma entered into a five-year collaboration that aims to accelerate clinical development of novel apoptosis-targeted and tyrosine kinase inhibitor drug candidates for leukemia treatment.
Read the complete report Click on http://bit.ly/2NIzta5
As the new school year approaches parents won't just be in a flurry of buying new pencil cases and the next size up in shoes but also will be looking to
stock their cupboard for their health needs for the next year.
Along with the Supermarket's Back-to-School sales there is also the opportunity to help parents with a clever display of the top needed cupboard accessories with
some smart recommendations to help with choices.
Looking at the UK retail market it is also worth considering that we are seeing a push for sustainability in products with those touting green credentials starting
to stand out from the competitors but with a backdrop of rising prices making price perhaps more important than ever.
Cuts and scrapes
One to definitely think about in the children's health range for back to school is plasters and wound cleaning preparations for those inevitable playground grazed
knees, cuts and scrapes.
With a focus on sustainability and some strong green credentials Elastoplast Green and Protect should be considered for any back to school health display with
eco-friendly construction and a climate neutral product but there is also Patch Kids Bamboo Sensitive Plasters which boast being home compostable.
Authorities in Northern Ireland have seized more than 242,000 unlicensed prescription tablets purchased online and destined for addresses throughout NI.
The medicines seized include Diazepam, used for anti-anxiety treatment, Pregabalin, used for epilepsy and anxiety, steroids and Zopiclone.
Other prescription medicines recovered included Tamoxifen, often used in the treatment of breast cancer and Salbutamol inhalers, frequently used in the treatment
of asthma.
"Co-operation between law enforcement agencies and government departments has led to the seizure of over 242,000 illegal and unlicensed tablets purchased online
and destined for addresses throughout Northern Ireland," justice minister Naomi Long was reported as saying.
The minister, together with health minister Robin Swann and assistant chief constable Mark McEwan PSNI were highlighting Northern Ireland's input to the global,
Interpol co-ordinated Operation Pangea XV, which saw multiple packages of tablets intercepted and seized, with a street value of almost £250,000.
She praised the concerted efforts made by PSNI, Border Force and officials from the Department of Health Medicines Regulatory Group during a specific week of action
in June.
The British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA) has warned that England's 42 integrated care boards (ICBs) may need to allocate an extra £37 million
from their budgets annually for the next five years due to the spiralling tax rates.
The government's Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access (VPAS) rebate rate increased more than five-fold in the past two years, the BGMA said
in its white paper released on Monday (October 30).
The report, conducted by consultancy firm Conclusio in consultation with local NHS leaders, examined the potential effects of the VPAS on ICB budgets.
BGMA said that due to the elevated VPAS rate, each ICB in England will experience significant increases in expenses for branded generics and biosimilars
annually - a consequence of reduced competition.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has raised alarm over rising cases of extensively antibiotic-resistant Shigella infections, mainly in gay, bisexual,
and other men who have physical relationship with men (GBMSM).
There has been a 53 per cent increase in cases since the beginning of 2023, mostly driven by a cluster of antibiotic resistant strain called Shigella sonnei,
with 97 cases reported this year until November, compared to just four cases last year.
According to UKHSA, Shigella sonnei infections are difficult to treat as the strain does not respond to the antibiotics typically used to treat the bacteria.
While it has been found across England, cases are concentrated in London (45), the North West (21) and South East (12).
Shigella is an infectious gut infection that can cause symptoms like diarrhoea (sometimes mixed with blood), stomach cramps and fever, which are commonly
mistaken for food poisoning.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy (paclitaxel or nab-paclitaxel)
which is said to benefit people with triple negative breast cancer.
Clinical trial evidence shows that, compared with paclitaxel, pembrolizumab combination increases how long people have before their cancer gets worse and how long they live.
NICE already recommends atezolizumab in combination with chemotherapy for untreated PD-L1-positive, locally advanced or metastatic, triple-negative breast cancer.
Atezolizumab combination is recommended by NICE for people with IC equal to or greater than 1%.
"This means that some people who can't have atezolizumab combination could be eligible for pembrolizumab combination," said NICE.
NICE's independent appraisal committee also agreed that the pembrolizumab combination meets the higher cost-effectiveness threshold for life-extending treatments for people with a short life expectancy.
Given by injection every 3 weeks, pembrolizumab (also called Keytruda and made by Merck Sharp and Dohme) is a type of immunotherapy that specifically targets triple
negative breast cancer. It works by blocking the activity of a protein known as PD-L1 which is produced in larger amounts on cancerous cells than normal cells. By blocking PD-L1 it helps the person's own immune cells to attack the cancer.
The European Commission is prepared to rewrite European Union law on medicines to ensure stable supply of generic and life-saving medicines in Northern Ireland.
In a press statement issued on Friday (Dec 17), the commission said it put forward a package of measures to ensure the continued long-term supply of medicines from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
In the context of the Northern Ireland Protocol, this means that the same medicines will continue to be available at the same time across the United Kingdom.
Commenting on the news, policy manager at the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) Helga Mangion said: "We are encouraged by the EU's statement on medicines availability in Northern Ireland, though of course we await the final outcome of the negotiations. We have been talking to the government, the MHRA and other stakeholders about these issues for months, highlighting the concerns of our members in Northern Ireland."
