Medicine Supply Notification: Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT)

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT)

MSN/2024/054

Tier 2 medium impact

Date of issue: 9th May 2024

• Creon® 10,000 and 25,000 gastro-resistant capsules are in limited supply until 2026.
• Nutrizym® 22 capsules are out of stock until mid-August 2024
• Pancrex V® capsules and powder remain available but are unable to support an increase in demand.
• Unlicensed supplies of Creon® 10,000 and 25,000 gastro-resistant capsules and alternative brands of PERT may be sourced, lead times vary.
• Clinical Advice has been issued by a number of professional bodies to support the management of patients in light of these shortages.

Unlicensed products

The following specialist importers have confirmed they can source unlicensed PERT preparations (please note there may be other companies that can also source supplies):

• Alium  (PANCREAZE® Delayed-Release Capsules)
• Durbin  (Zenpep® Delayed-Release Capsules)
• Mawdsleys   (Creon®)
• Smartway  (Creon®)
• Target Healthcare  (Creon® , PANCREAZE® Delayed-Release Capsules, Viokace® Tablets, Zenpep® Delayed-Release Capsules)

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 the unlicensed product cannot be issued. Where a prescriber wishes to prescribe a specially manufactured or imported product, an FP10 paper prescription should be issued as ‘ Specified imported product (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.