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Dovonex psoriasis ointment (50mg/g) will now be available through pharmacies without a prescription following approval by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
The reclassification of the medicine, which contains calcipotriol, a vitamin D analogue and will be supplied as ointment in a 60g tube by pharmacies, will give patients more options for where to obtain treatment when their condition recurs.
“Psoriasis is a chronic disease which can have a major impact on people’s quality of life,” said Sarah Branch MHRA’s deputy director of vigilance and risk management of medicines (VRMM).
“By making this medicine more widely available, patients will be able to treat flare ups quickly without the need for a prescription,” she added.
Ash Soni, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) said that the approval is great news for patients and has been welcomed by pharmacists.
“Pharmacists are more easily accessible than doctors and trained to give advice on medicine use, make sure the chosen medicine is appropriate and check if a person needs to see another health professional.
“This is an important patient benefit and we would like to see more medicine available through pharmacy in future.”
According to the MHRA, Dovonex will be sold after a consultation with a pharmacist to patients aged 18 or over with GP-diagnosed mild to moderate plaque psoriasis. The treatment can then be used for up to 12 weeks after which patients will be advised to see their doctor about ongoing treatment.
- On 1 September 2017, the MHRA informed The Pharmaceutical Journal that, after approval of its application to reclassify Dovonex psoriasis ointment from prescription only (POM) to a pharmacy (P) medicine, LEO Laboratories had taken the decision not to market the product in the UK.
