Medicine Supply Notification: Imiquimod (Aldara® 5% and Bascellex® 50mg/g) cream
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Imiquimod (Aldara® 5% and Bascellex® 50mg/g) cream.
MSN/2023/010
Tier 2 – medium impact
Date of issue 3rd February 2023
- Imiquimod (Bascellex®) 50mg/g cream is out of stock until early March 2023.
- Imiquimod (Aldara®) 5% cream is out of stock until mid- March 2023.
- Limited supplies remain available in NHS Trusts and health boards.
- Imiquimod (Zyclara®) 3.75% cream remains available and will be able to partially support an increased demand.
- Alternate products remain available; where these are not suitable, unlicensed supplies may be sourced, lead times vary.
The following specialist importers have confirmed they can source unlicensed Imiquimod 5% Cream (please note there may be other companies that can also source supplies)
If there is currently no listing on dm+d for the imported product for prescribers to select using their prescribing systems an EPS prescription for unlicensed Imiquimod 5% Cream cannot be issued. Where a prescriber wishes to prescribe a specially manufactured product, an FP10 paper prescription should be issued as ‘Imiquimod 5% Cream (Special Order)‘ and endorsed by the pharmacy as a non-Part VIIIB special with the following information:
- Amount dispensed over pack size used;
- Invoice price per pack size from which the order was supplied less any discount or rebate;
- Manufacturers’/importers’ MHRA licence number;
- Batch number of the product supplied;
- SP
A copy of this medicine supply notification, including further information, has been sent to all pharmacy NHS email addresses.
DHSC and NHSE/I have now launched an online Medicines Supply Tool, which provides up to date information about medicine supply issues. The contents of these MSNs can now be viewed on the Tool.
The Tool also details any changes to resupply dates and updates to the entries.
To access the Tool you will need an NHS email address. Once set up and logged in, you will be able to access it online.
New shortages not listed on the SPS website, can be reported using our shortage reporting tool.
