A breakdown of the over-the-counter medicines market in Britain in 2016Subscription
The over-the-counter medicines market grew by 2.3% during 2016 to reach £2.62bn.
Editorial
Drug regulation in the UK: risks and opportunities post-BrexitSubscription
While the implications of Brexit on drug regulation in the UK are largely unknown, the government needs to consider its options quickly to avoid delaying public access to important medicine.
Comment
Rare but not forgotten: why drug appraisal methods must be updated to consider treatments for rare diseasesSubscription
The UK government needs to adapt its drug and technology appraisal methods to prevent patients with rare diseases being left out in the cold.
Q&A
Restricting what is allowed on prescription in England: views from healthcare professionals and patient groupsSubscription
We ask healthcare professionals across primary care and patient groups for their thoughts on NHS England’s decision to review what GPs are allowed to prescribe.
Books and Arts
Basic introduction to knowledge and skills required in new drug developmentSubscription
Introduction to drug disposition and pharmacokinetics, by Stephen H Curry and Robin Whelpton
Building a case on the harm of sugarSubscription
The case against sugar, by Gary Taubes
Learning article
How to diagnose and manage primary and secondary earache and ear infectionsSubscription
Earache is a common problem that can be the result of a variety of different pathologies. It is important for pharmacists and healthcare professionals to appropriately diagnose primary and secondary earache and ear infections.
Advising patients on halitosis and oral hygieneSubscription
Halitosis (bad breath) is estimated to be the third most frequent reason for patients to seek dental care, following tooth decay and gum disease. Pharmacists are ideally placed to promote oral health and provide patients with advice on the prevention and management of halitosis.
Careers
What pharmacist Sini Eskola does at the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA)Subscription
Forming a view on complicated matters, involving legislation and policy, which influence many parts of pharmaceutical industry businesses, is an important challenge, says Sini Eskola.
From pharmacy technician to pharmacistSubscription
There is no easy career path for pharmacy technicians who want to become pharmacists. Steve Hemsley finds out more about the process and how some technicians have made it work.
My life as a mental health pharmacist in a specialist hospital
As a multi-site pharmacy manager for LloydsPharmacy and lead pharmacist based in the Carleton Clinic, a mental health hospital in Carlisle, John Mowat talks about his career and role in providing the medication supply service for Cumbria Partnership Foundation Trust.
News
High Court throws out legal challenge over GPhC standards but PDA says ruling provides “welcome clarification”
The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) has lost its High Court challenge over changes to professional standards for pharmacists which it claimed threatened a pharmacist’s human rights.
NHS report promises 'over 1,300' pharmacists in GP surgeries by 2019
More than 800 additional clinical pharmacists could be working in GP surgeries within the next two years, according to plans announced on 31 March 2017 by Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England.
NHS England to issue guidance on dropping ‘low priority’ drugs from NHS prescriptions
NHS England has identified a number of medicines that should no longer be available on prescription in a move that would save the NHS £128m a year.
MHRA recommends that sildenafil is made available over the counter in the UK
Sildenafil — the prescription-only medicine branded as Viagra for the treatment of erectile dysfunction — could become a pharmacy (P) medicine if government proposals go ahead.
Drug classes commonly implicated in causing kidney injury identified
Researchers have identified the drug classes that are frequently implicated in causing acute kidney injury after analysing adverse drug reactions in a French national pharmacovigilance database.
Study identifies most important inhaler technique errors that are linked to poor asthma outcomes
A study of 3,660 patients across eight countries has identified the types of inhaler technique errors that are associated with the greatest impact on asthma outcomes.
News in Brief
Gething confirms community pharmacy funding for Wales
The total value of the community pharmacy contract in Wales will remain at £144.3m for the 2017–2018 financial year, health secretary Vaughan Gething has reaffirmed.
Boots launches HPV vaccination for boys and men
Boots is extending its private human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination service to make it available to boys and men aged 12–44 years.
FDA approves first drug for tardive dyskinesia
The US Food and Drug Administration, which is responsible for evaluating the safety and efficacy of medicines in the United States, has given the green light to valbenazine (Ingrezza), the first drug to be approved for treating adults with tardive dyskinesia.
GPhC agrees wording for revised standard on religious beliefs
The pharmacy regulator is pushing ahead with its controversial proposal to amend professional standards which means pharmacists cannot put their own religious or other beliefs ahead of providing patient-centred care.
Pharmacists urged to explain potential effect of body weight on emergency contraception
The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) has urged pharmacists and doctors to explain to patients that the emergency contraceptive pill can be ineffective in women weighing 11 stone or more, or with a body-mass index of 26 or above.
GPhC removes option for registration assessments to be re-marked
The option to have pharmacy registration assessments re-marked will be removed from 2017, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has announced.
FDA approves first drug for progressive multiple sclerosis
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is responsible for evaluating the safety and efficacy of medicines in the United States, has approved the use of ocrelizumab (Ocrevus; Genentech) for adult patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS).
FDA approves first monoclonal antibody injection for atopic dermatitis
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is responsible for evaluating the safety and efficacy of medicines in the United States, has approved the use of dupilumab (Dupixent; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals) to treat adults with atopic dermatitis.
EMA calls for suspension of generic drugs after concerns about quality of data
A list of generic drugs — including 41 that are available in the UK — have been recommended for suspension across the EU because of doubts over the quality of the bioequivalence data used to grant their national marketing authorisation.
High Court told community pharmacy cuts introduced without 'basic fairness'
British Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy appoints first pharmacist president
Nottingham, King's and UCL ranked among best in the world for pharmacy and pharmacology education
Dupilumab gets early access nod from UK regulator for atopic dermatitis
Correspondence
Preparing our future pharmacistsSubscription
The qualities of candidates I want to see elected onto the RPS national pharmacy boardsSubscription
Helping to better equip pharmacists from all backgroundsSubscription
Sector-based prejudice against community pharmacySubscription
Helping to develop our professionSubscription
Discuss clinical needs with patients before ditching sun creamsSubscription
Sunscreen should not be seen as a beauty productSubscription
Challenging established wisdoms could lead to progressSubscription
Multidisciplinary preregistration training is the way forwardSubscription
Be careful how you promote the NMS to patientsSubscription
