EMA publishes first list of “critical medicines” to avoid potential shortages A list of more than 200 active substances considered critical for healthcare systems across the EU has been published by the European Medicines Agency.…
Smoking cessation medicine cytisine to be available in January 2024, distributor confirms Cytisine was approved for use in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in March 2019, but no supplies have been previously available.…
Coroner advises NHS England to warn prescribers about interaction of tramadol and warfarin The coroner’s report says NHS England’s response “must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action” or must explain why no action is proposed.…
MHRA will take a ‘more proactive approach’ to reclassification, says chief executive June Raine told delegates at an event held on 12 December 2023 that a 5% reduction in medicine prescribing through reclassification could save the NHS £1.4bn each year.…
Autumn registration assessment pass rate rises to 66% The 66% overall 2023 pass rate is the second highest of the past five years of the autumn registration assessment.…
European regulator’s committee recommends new safety measures for medicines containing pseudoephedrine The European Medicines Agency's risk assessment committee has recommended that medicines containing pseudoephedrine should not be used in patients with severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure, or people with severe acute or chronic kidney disease or failure.…
New valproate prescriptions must be signed off by two specialist doctors from January 2024, says MHRA The requirement for valproate prescriptions, which will come into effect on 31 January 2024, was first announced in December 2022.…
MHRA warns of dangers of fake weight loss pens after Yellow Card reports The medicines regulator said Ozempic and Saxenda pens have been confirmed as being falsified with insulin in five of the reports.…
Pharmacy regulator to increase registration fees by 7.5% from April 2024 In a statement, the GPhC Council said it “had to raise the fees in order to be in a position to continue to carry out regulatory work”.…
Tirzepatide approved for weight loss treatment by regulator The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has said tirzepatide will be available to patients with obesity, or who are overweight, with weight-related health problems.…