News NICE recommends treatment that could help 30,000 people with COPD Guidance says dupilumab can be offered as an add-on maintenance treatment for adults with uncontrolled COPD.…Published: 26 January 2026
News Community pharmacies face ‘economic peril’, CPE warns government In an “uncompromising” letter, Community Pharmacy England said negotiations for the next pharmacy contract must close the funding gap for the sector.…Published: 26 January 2026
News Weight-loss drugs among £45m of illegally traded medicines seized in 2025 Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency figures show that more than 5,000 glucagon-like peptide-1 products were seized in 2025.…Published: 26 January 2026
News Two-prescriber sign-off no longer required for isotretinoin The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said that scrapping the two-prescriber requirement will address delays in access to acne treatment for patients aged under 18 years old.…Published: 23 January 2026
News Terence Wheeler (1945–2026)On 13 January 2026, Terence Wheeler MPharmS, aged 80 years, of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Mr Wheeler registered with the Society in 1968.…Published: 23 January 2026
News Pharmacy2U acquires Care Quality Pharmacy Care Quality Pharmacy offers prescription and NHS services to a variety of care home groups, extra care services and domiciliary care agencies.…Published: 23 January 2026
News Health news round-up: vaccinations off-site, child health and medicines shortages A weekly summary of important developments in health news that you may have missed.…Published: 23 January 2026
News Concerns raised that pharmacists in Scotland may not be able to opt out of assisted dying process Scottish shadow health secretary Sandesh Gulhane has expressed concerns that protections for Scottish pharmacists could be weakened without an opt-out model for the Assisted Dying (Terminally Ill Adults) Bill.…Published: 22 January 2026
News NICE approves twice-yearly infusion that ‘significantly outperforms’ usual treatments for severe lupus Guidance says obinutuzumab, taken with daily immunosuppressant tablet mycophenolate mofetil, could benefit around 12,000 people in England.…Published: 22 January 2026
News UKPPLAB to publish proposals for ‘effective’ pharmacy leadership The UK Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board said the RPS’s transition to becoming a royal college would offer a chance to “prioritise excellence and ambition in education, innovation and research”.…Published: 22 January 2026
