Pharmaceutical industry

First two antimicrobial drugs funded by NHS subscription payment scheme to be given to patients

The NHS England payment scheme is aimed to incentivise antimicrobial drug innovation.…

Hormone replacement therapy shortages: will the government’s new approach work?

There are severe shortages of several hormone replacement therapy products at the moment. Here, we examine whether the government is doing enough to rectify the problems.…

Pharmacists can limit some HRT supplies to three months, says government

Serious shortage protocols have been issued for some hormone replacement therapy products, which will allow pharmacists to place three-month limits on prescriptions to mitigate supply issues.…

Online pharmacies are eight times more likely to fail regulatory standards, data show

Exclusive: Investigation reveals how some online pharmacies are repeatedly prescribing large amounts of opioids and z-drugs, in one case using an accountant to approve medicine orders.…

HRT shortages made worse by long-term prescribing, says PSNC 

Exclusive: Mike Dent, director of pharmacy funding at the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, said that demand for HRT prescriptions is outstripping supply more than previously, following the announcement of changes to prescription charges.…

Majority of pharmacy owners report significant spike in medicine supply problems

The "distressing" Pharmacy Services Negotiating Committee survey results also reveal that temporary closures caused by staff shortages equated to more than 844 days of closures.…

MPs vote in favour of continued online provision of medical abortion drugs

Temporary measures to allow women to have early-stage abortions at home following a video consultation during the COVID-19 pandemic will now be made permanent.…

One in five drugs approved by EMA in 2021 lacked full environmental risk data

Exclusive: Analysis of European Medicines data has revealed that 17 marketing authorisations were approved in 2021 despite being submitted with insufficient environmental risk data.…

Nigel Clarke: ‘The pharmacy registration exam needs to be revisited’

As he steps down after eight years at the helm of the pharmacy regulator, Nigel Clarke reflects on his tenure during one of the most challenging times in the history of public health.…

RPS calls for complete ban on online diet drug

The RPS believes that 2,4-Dinitrophenol should not be supplied under any circumstances.…