Wes Mountain/The Pharmaceutical Journal
In 2024, our most-read feature by a long way was on a new type of super-strength synthetic opioid called nitazene, which is flooding the UK market and increasingly being found in counterfeit medicines, such as benzodiazepines. Experts warned that nitazenes can be many hundreds of times more potent than morphine, putting people at a high risk of overdose.
On a related topic, another popular feature examined whether prescribing restrictions for pregabalin are working. Pregabalin is a prescription medicine that was reclassified as a controlled drug in 2019 following concerns about the risks of illegal diversion and misuse after an increase in deaths. Data obtained by The Pharmaceutical Journal via a freedom of information request revealed that prescribing had increased by almost 25% since restrictions were put in place.
Other features that made it into our top ten list covered new therapeutic approaches to treating chronic cough, attempts to change prescribing culture around fluoroquinolone antibiotics and a deep dive into the stressors burning out pharmacists in all sectors.
The top 10 features published in 2024 were:
Wes Mountain/The Pharmaceutical Journal
1. ‘Everything you need to know about nitazenes’
Experts are warning that nitazenes — a type of synthetic opioid — could lead to an increase in drug-related deaths as they flood the UK market.
Wes Mountain/The Pharmaceutical Journal
2. ‘Hacking the vagal system to treat chronic cough’
Chronic cough places a huge burden on healthcare systems and is distressing for patients, but there are few targeted treatments available. In the past decade, a new theory that chronic cough is a neural, rather than respiratory, problem has invigorated clinical trials.
Wes Mountain/The Pharmaceutical Journal
3. ‘How AI is transforming drug discovery’
Pharmaceutical companies and start-ups are harnessing AI to improve speed and reduce costs at every stage of the drug discovery and development process.
Wes Mountain/The Pharmaceutical Journal
4. ‘Why are increasing numbers of students dropping out of pharmacy education?’
Data show more and more students are dropping out of the MPharm programme, which is being attributed to students’ mental health, financial difficulties, a changing education programme and a return to normalcy post-COVID.
Wes Mountain/The Pharmaceutical Journal
5. ‘Are prescribing restrictions for pregabalin working?’
Prescribing of pregabalin, which is licensed to treat epilepsy, neuropathic pain and anxiety, is on the rise despite the introduction of restrictions in 2019. Here, we examine the trends and possible causes.
Wes Mountain/The Pharmaceutical Journal
6. ‘Changing the culture of fluoroquinolone prescribing’
Despite repeated warnings about disabling and irreversible side effects from fluoroquinolones, prescribing of these broad-spectrum antibiotics remains “stubbornly stable”.
Wes Mountain/The Pharmaceutical Journal
7. ‘A prescribing service for England’s pharmacies: everything you need to know’
After months of discussions, an NHS prescribing service for community pharmacies in England may finally be in sight for a select few ‘pathfinders’. Here is what we know so far about the long-awaited programme.
Adrià Volta
8. ‘Measles: the vaccination rate slump fuelling an outbreak’
As the NHS launches a catch-up campaign for missed MMR doses amid a surge in measles cases across England, we look at vaccine coverage as well as measles transmission and symptoms.
Adrià Volta
9. ‘Targeting better safety: next steps for CRISPR therapeutics’
Genome editing technique CRISPR was only devised in 2012, but already we have seen the first CRISPR-based medicine for sickle cell disease come to market. Researchers are now refining the technology to improve its safety and efficacy.
Wes Mountain/The Pharmaceutical Journal
10. ‘Special report: the stressors burning out pharmacists’
The proportion of pharmacists experiencing high stress levels is twice what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic, with demand, workforce, medicines shortages and funding topping the list of contributing factors.
Thank you to all of those within and outside of the profession who have made these features possible through kindly contributing their ideas, expertise and opinions.
If you have suggestions for topics that you would like us to cover in the features section next year, please contact senior features editor Dawn Connelly: dawn.connelly@rpharms.com; @DawnConnelly73; @dawnconnelly73.bsky.social
