HRT products to return earlier than expected

Supplies of some hormone replacement therapies (HRT) will be resupplied earlier than expected, following a decision to fast-track their manufacture.

Theramex, which specialises in the manufacture of women’s health drugs including HRT, announced it is recruiting another manufacturer in order to boost supplies of out-of-stock products.

It also said it had worked with suppliers to shorten manufacturing times and speed up supply to bring its range of FemSeven products back to market “much earlier than originally planned”, in a statement issued on 11 November 2019.

“We appreciate the urgency of the situation and have added an additional manufacturer to fast-track the process and allow us to ensure that supply is resumed as quickly as possible,” the company said.

“We estimate, with the new timelines in place, the Evorel, Conti and Sequi ranges will be back in stock in the UK from February 2020 onwards.”

The move by Theramex comes as HRT stock continues to be in short supply.

The British Menopause Society (BMS) issued an update on its website at the end of November 2019 that confirmed HRT product shortages, first revealed in summer 2019, are ongoing. The problems have been attributed to manufacturing or supply issues.

It said it had been informed that the shortages were “temporary”.

In its statement, the BMS said it: “has been in ongoing discussions with the manufacturers as well as the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health and the medicines supply team at the Department of Health and Social Care to explore this ongoing issue and to provide up-to-date information on HRT product availability.”