Therapeutic intervention

More than 2,000 patients tested in UK’s first routine genotyping project for clopidogrel prescribing

Exclusive: The genotyping project at NHS Tayside identified 2,300 patients, 29% of whom emerged as ‘poor’ or ‘intermediate’ CYP2C19-clopidogrel metabolisers.…

Pharmaceuticals detected in 52 out of 54 river sites in English national parks

Researchers detected 31 APIs in rivers in 8 out of England's 10 national parks in 2022, with the most common being cetirizine, metformin and fexofenadine.…

More than 10,000 whooping cough cases reported in first six months of 2024

Case numbers of whooping cough in 2024 so far have already exceeded the total number of cases reported in 2012, the last major outbreak of the disease.…

Croup: diagnosis and management

Croup is a common childhood illness that can usually be managed at home. Pharmacists can counsel worried parents on appropriate treatment and should also be aware of red-flag symptoms and referral pathways.…

One in ten people with chronic pain could experience opioid dependence, suggest study results

The pooled prevalence of dependence and opioid use disorder was 9.3% across 148 studies, but the researchers say high heterogeneity means the results should be “interpreted with caution”.…

First gene-editing therapy recommended by NICE to treat people with beta thalassaemia

NHS England said that around 460 patients aged 12 years and over could benefit from the treatment.…

NICE approves osteoporosis treatment that could benefit 14,000 people at high risk of fracture

Abaloparatide will provide an alternative for women after menopause who have not responded to, or cannot tolerate, usual treatment options.…

Almost one-third of people on low-calorie diet programme in remission from type 2 diabetes mellitus, study results show

Since its nationwide roll-out in May 2024, NHS England says more than 25,000 people have been referred to take part in the ‘Type 2 diabetes path to remission programme’.…

NHS to commission 50 pharmacies to offer RSV vaccinations from September 2024

NHS England will commission 25 pharmacy contractors in NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) and a further 25 in NHS North East Essex ICB to provide the RSV community pharmacy pathfinder service.…

Changes in migraine treatment: how new classes of drugs can provide additional options for patients and prescribers

This episode of The PJ Pod looks at recent changes to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance on the treatment of acute and chronic migraine and what pharmacists should expect from the new class of gepant drugs.…