PJ, July 2018, Vol 301, No 7915

Penicillin allergy associated with increased risk of superbug infections

Penicillin allergy is associated with an increased risk of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium difficile mediated by the increased use of ‘broad spectrum’ antibiotics, a study in The British Medical Journal has found.…

Deaths: Brian Anthony Whittle

On 3 April 2018, Brian Anthony Whittle FRPharmS, aged 85 years, of Loughton, Milton Keynes. Dr Whittle registered with the Society in 1955 and left in 2017. In 1954 Whittle graduated with a BPharm from the University of Nottingham. In 1957 he received an MSc from the University of London, and in 19…

Deaths: Carolyn Boardall

On 1 May 2018, Carolyn Boardall, aged 58 years, of York. Mrs Boardall registered with the Society in 1982 and left in 2018.…

We are concerned about the shortage of buprenorphine tablets

Buprenorphine is one of the two medicines licensed for opioid misuse that is recommended by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence, and the Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) ‘Orange Book’. The cost of generic buprenorphine sublingual tablets has risen shar…

Less is more: shorter trastuzumab treatment for HER2+ breast cancer is effective, cheaper and yields better adherence than standard therapy

Around 15–20% of breast cancers show amplification (increased number of gene copies) or overexpression (increased production of protein) of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). These patients have highly proliferative tumours and decreased expression of oestrogen and progestero…

PDA Union and Boots meet to discuss future representation of Boots pharmacists

Representatives from the Pharmacists’ Defence Association Union and senior Boots managers have begun talks to establish how Boots pharmacists are represented in the future.…

FDA grants first approval of a cannabis-derived medicine

A cannabis-derived medicine has been approved for the first time by the US Food and Drug Administration.…

Opiates, antibiotics and Botox should be harder to get online, GPhC proposes

Medicines including antibiotics and opiates could become more difficult to obtain online under proposals published by the General Pharmaceutical Council.…

Pharmacy technicians to be consulted on supervision

Pharmacy technicians are to be consulted on their views on the supervision of the preparation, sale and supply of medicines in the autumn of 2018.…

Deaths: Adam Scott

On 14 May 2018, Adam Scott MRPharmS, aged 24 years, of Abergele, Conwy. Mr Scott joined the Society in 2013.…