Major shortage of vital cancer drug could continue into NEXT YEAR – what patients need to do

A MAJOR shortage of a life-saving cancer drug will continue for at least another two months and could even last until next year. Creon – used by people with pancreatic cancer – has faced supply issues since 2024 and Brits who rely on the drug will now face a shortage until early October, if not later. Creon has been in short supply since 2024 and this is expected to continue until October, or even next year Credit: Alamy Creon is given to people with pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis and chronic pancreatitis Credit: PA A shortage notice for Creon® 10000 gastro-resistant capsules was due to expire today, but the government extended the notice on Thursday until October 2. This is the eight time the serious shortage protocol (SSP) – issued by the Department of Health and Social care (DHSC) when there is a serious shortage – has been extended, after it was first announced in May 2024. Sign up for the Health newsletter Thank you! What’s more, the European Medicines Agency says the shortage could run well into 2027. Speaking about ongoing drug supply issues, Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), told Sun Health last month: “Pharmacies are increasingly facing supply problems affecting every day medicines on which millions rely every day, with some describing shortages as the worst they have ever experienced. Read more on drug shortages “Whilst the medicine supply chain is complex, the rising problem of shortages across a wide range of medication is extremely worrying for patients and heartbreaking for pharmacists who go to great lengths to ensure they don’t turn them away.” Creon is a pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) which is given to people with pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis and chronic pancreatitis. People with these conditions require Creon to be able to digest food as it helps to break down carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Patients can suffer from severe diarrhoea, weight loss, and malnutrition if they can’t get hold of the drug. Most read in Health Pharmacies have previously reported cases of patients rationing their medication and, in some instances, skipping meals because they were unable to obtain supplies. Creon® 10000 gastro-resistant capsules are not the only strength of the drug that are in short supply. Pharmacies have previously reported cases of patients rationing Creon or even having to skip meals Credit: PA Medicine shortages in England have reached a record high as pharmacists express concern Credit: Getty The DHSC confirmed in July that Creon® 25000 gastro-resistant capsules will also face a serious shortage until October 2. Shortages of the life-saving drug have now been going on for over two years, which is a new record. Data in June showed that the UK now has the longest running shortages for one individual medicine in history. So, what has caused this shortage? Another PERT medication – Pancrease HL® – was discontinued by its manufacturer in November 2023, meaning there was an increase in the number of people prescribed Creon. This also coincided with problems in the manufacturing of Creon with one active pharmaceutical ingredient having limited availability. These issues together mean that not enough product is being made to meet demand. The European Medicines Agency says that the shortage may go on well into 2027. The question is, what should patients struggling to get Creon do? According to Pancreatic Cancer UK, patients can switch to other brands of PERT. What’s more, GPs and pharmacies can now also order PERT from overseas, which could help with supply issues. “This means that everyone should be able to get the PERT they need, but it might be a different brand,” the charity say. But importantly, Brits must speak to their GP to get a prescription for different brands or imported PERT. There are also different doses of Creon capsules, which can be used to make up your dose. The European Medicines Agency says that the Creon shortage may go on well into 2027 Credit: Alamy What to do if you can't get Creon... According to Pancreatic Cancer UK, you can switch to one of the other brands of PERT. GPs and pharmacies can now also order PERT from overseas. These brands include Pangrol® and Kreon®. Here are some tips from the charity on getting your prescription: It is a good idea to put in your prescription requests as soon as the pharmacy has provided your last prescription. This will give the pharmacist time to get your next prescription. Check with your GP surgery that the prescription request has been authorised. Some GP surgeries have automated systems that reject repeat prescriptions if they are placed too early. Make sure that your GP and pharmacist are aware of imported PERT. They should have been given information about ordering this. They should order it for anyone who may run out of PERT. It may take a bit of time to access these imported brands, so speak to your GP and pharmacist early. If your prescription includes imported PERT, it will need to include “(imported)” in the medicine name. If you get paper prescriptions, ask your GP to give you a separate prescription for PERT, without any other medicines included on it. This will make it easier for you to get PERT at other pharmacies, if your usual one does not have it. And here’s their advice on speaking to your pharmacy: Be aware that pharmacies are only supplying one month’s supply at a time, to try to help supplies last longer. If your normal pharmacy does not have your PERT, you could ask them to call the wholesaler that supplies it, to have more stock sent. Check back in a couple of days as pharmacies are restocking regularly. You could try calling other pharmacies in the area to see if they have supplies. Make sure you try several different chains of pharmacy. One chain might be out of stock, but others might be able to get it. Source: Pancreatic Cancer UK Creon isn’t the only drug that has been facing an ongoing serious shortage. Pharmacists warned this week that shortages of a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) product used by millions may soon get worse. Several different strengths of Estradot patches – a form of HRT used to combat menopause symptoms – have been in short supply since December 2024. And with the number of women now receiving HRT for menopause symptoms more than doubling in just five years, experts are worried that this will lead to further shortages of the drugs. The government extended the serious shortage notice for ramipril, a blood pressure medication, for a second time this year last month. It said that patients will continue to only be supplied one month’s worth of the 1.25mg capsules at a time, with the shortage set to last at least until October 30. Meanwhile, Sun Health reported in June that drug shortages had reached a record high in England with one pharmacist saying it was the “worst” he’d ever known. According to Community Pharmacy England, May was the “second consecutive month” where the number of medicines on the price concessions list reached “record highs”. Amid this situation, there are a handful of medications that are particularly at risk of facing supply issues – from certain beta-blockers to antidepressants. Comment now