Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)

MHRA consults on reclassifying codeine linctus as a prescription-only medicine

The Commission on Human Medicines previously said that codeine linctus is being used as an ingredient of 'purple drank', an illegal recreational drink that has been popularised through social media and music.…

Regulator approves first RSV vaccine for older adults

Data suggest that respiratory syncytial virus accounts for 8,000 deaths each year in adults aged 60 years and over in the UK.…

Genetic ‘biobank’ version of Yellow Card scheme to be piloted by drugs regulator

Genetic data and samples from patients who have experienced adverse side effects to medicines will be stored in the biobank, which will be used to determine whether the reaction was the result of a genetic trait.…

Alzheimer’s drug being considered by MHRA for UK approval

If approved, experts say lecanemab would be the first Alzheimer's disease drug in the UK for nearly 20 years.…

Oxybutynin to remain prescription-only medicine, following MHRA consultation

The medicines regulator said "overwhelming responses" to its consultation contributed to its decision against reclassification.…

Medicines regulator issues advice to prevent severe harm from JAK inhibitors

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has advised against prescribing janus kinase inhibitors in patients with certain risk factors.…

Two prescribers must agree that acne is ‘severe enough’ before under-18s are prescribed isotretinoin, review concludes

The Commission on Human Medicines' recommendations will be taken forward by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to support the acne drug's safe use.…

Medicines regulator approves UK’s first dual combination inhaler for mild asthma

AstraZeneca said the marketing authorisation meant its Symbicort Turbohaler 200/6 could be used by 2.7 million adults in the UK who live with mild asthma.…

Epilepsy charities call on government to immediately halt two-clinician sign-off for patients taking valproate

A coalition of epilepsy charities has said the decision is "totally out of proportion to the risks to patient safety".…

UK is first country to approve bivalent COVID-19 vaccine

The Spikevax Bivalent Original/Omicron by Moderna targets both the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron variant.…