Drug classes

NICE recommends first combination pill for long-term treatment of endometriosis

Relugolix combination therapy is a second-line treatment option for endometriosis that is faster acting than injectable treatments and can be taken at home.…

More than 500 people hospitalised following use of weight-loss drugs, says health minister

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency confirmed that more than 20,000 Yellow Card reports of suspected reactions in association with GLP-1 RAs indicated for weight management have been recorded, as of 31 January 2025.…

It is an exciting time to be a respiratory pharmacist — and we need more of them 

Specialist respiratory pharmacists are in short supply in England and Wales, but investing in developing this workforce will show benefit for pharmacy and patients.…

Greener inhalers could make up to 10% of NHS net zero emissions cuts, report concludes

A report published by the Office of Health Economics said that a switch to the use of carbon minimal pressurised metered dose inhalers could cut NHS carbon emissions by more than 600,000 tonnes per year.…

Test your knowledge of respiratory tract diseases

Respiratory tract conditions — such as lung cancer, COPD and pneumonia — account for 20% of all deaths. Here, test your knowledge of these common conditions and treatment options.…

How a global health partnership with an NHS trust has transformed care for patients in Zambia

By partnering with King’s College London, pharmacists at Ndola Teaching Hospital in Zambia have learnt from their counterparts working at St George’s Hospital infectious disease department.…

Rapid on-site genetic sequencing could help curb antimicrobial-resistant outbreaks, says MHRA

Researchers found that rapid on-site genetic sequencing detects bacterial infections within two days, which is “significantly faster“ than traditional methods.…

NHS England to commission whooping cough vaccination service through community pharmacies

The respiratory syncytial virus and pertussis vaccination service is aimed to help supplement vaccination programmes delivered by GPs and NHS trusts.…

Understanding the role of sex hormones in asthma

Asthma is more common and can be more serious in women. Understanding the role of hormones in this disease could improve outcomes and eventually lead to the development of new treatment options.…

Standard-dose DOACs not necessarily better than reduced dose, study results suggest

Researchers found that “non-inferiority” of a reduced dose of direct oral anticoagulants could not be determined when compared with a standard dose, with “reliably low rates” of recurrent venous thromboembolism.…