MSD – Solus Agreement

From 1st February 2022, Alliance Healthcare UK together with Alloga will become the only pre wholesaler / wholesaler partnership to supply the MSD portfolio to all pharmacies, hospitals and dispensing doctors in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. You can order these lines from Alliance Healthcare in your usual way.

If you have any queries, please speak to your Alliance Healthcare Account Manager.

CLASS 2 RECALL - VARIOUS MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDERS AND PARALLEL DISTRIBUTOR COMPANIES

Important update:

Further to the recall below, the MHRA have sent an updated version with the below changes.

Change made:

Batch ET042/2156 has been added to BR Lewis Pharmaceuticals, 150mg Aprovel section (this batch number has been added in the table below).

Updated link:

MHRA drug alert link: https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/class-2-medicines-recall-various-marketing-authorisation-holders-and-parallel-distributor-companies-irbesartan-containing-products-el-21-a-slash-34?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=51215d28-2f33-4366-a0f9-0eb7cd46f26b&utm_content=immediately

Specific batches of the below products are recalled by the Marketing Authorisation Holders and parallel distributor companies as a precautionary measure due to contamination with an impurity called 5-(4’-(azidomethyl)-[1,1’-biphenyl]-2yl)-1H-tetrazole, which has mutagenic potential. These batches are being recalled as the level of contamination is above the acceptable limit

MHRA drug alert link: https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/class-2-medicines-recall-various-marketing-authorisation-holders-and-parallel-distributor-companies-irbesartan-containing-products-el-21-a-slash-34?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=1bddc3b6-a77c-46a3-9a16-7732942ac3dc&utm_content=immediately   

Aventis Pharma Limited T/A Sanofi

Parallel Distributors

Chemilines Ltd

Drugsrus Ltd (Repackaged by P.I.E Pharma Ltd)

Lexon (UK) Ltd

BR Lewis Pharmaceuticals Ltd (Repackaged by Doncaster Pharmaceuticals Group Ltd)

Gowrie Laxmico Ltd T/A B&S Healthcare

Quadrant Pharmaceuticals Ltd (Repackaged by Maxearn Ltd)

OPD Laboratories Ltd

Further Information

Sanofi

For stock control enquiries, please contact GB-CustomerServices@sanofi.com or 0800 854 430.

For more information or medical information queries, please contact uk-medicalinformation@sanofi.com or 0800 035 2525.

Chemilines

For more information or medical information queries, please contact Ashutosh Pradhan at Ashutosh.pradhan@chemilines.com.

For supply queries, please contact Nisha Brar at Nisha.brar@chemilines.com.

BR Lewis Pharmaceuticals Ltd / Doncaster Pharmaceuticals Group Ltd

For more information or medical information queries, please contact Richard Gore at 01302 554805 or Richard.gore@doncaster-pharm.com.

For supply queries, please contact Rebecca Platts at 01302 552961 (Mon-Fri 8am-4pm) or rebecca.platts@doncaster-pharm.com.

Drugsrus Ltd

For more information or medical information / supply queries, please contact Drugsrus Limited at recall@drugsrus.co.uk or 0208 423 3800.

Lexon (UK) Ltd

For more information or medical information queries, please contact Yogesh Patel at yogesh.patel@lexonuk.com or 07515 765513.

For supply queries, please contact Heather Jordan at heather.jordan@lexonuk.com.

Gowrie Laxmico Ltd T/A B&S Healthcare

For more information or medical information queries, please contact medinfo@bnsheathcare.com or 0800 049 9401 ext 941.

For supply queries, please contact customerservice@bnshealthcare.com.

Quadrant Pharmaceuticals Ltd

For all enquiries please contact Radoslaw Bandomir at radoslaw.bandomir@maxearn.co.uk.

OPD Laboratories Ltd

For more information or medical information queries, please contact Sasi Vimalaranjithan / Hemang Patel at 01923 332 796 or sasi@sigmaplc.com / hemang@sigmaplc.com.

For supply queries, please contact Vasanth Samson / Krina Shah at qa@sigmaplc.com.

Please return all affected stock to your original supplier for credit. Unfortunately we can only accept stock purchased from us (Alliance Healthcare Distribution Limited). Any other stock will be returned to your stores/Pharmacies.

If you have any questions, then please contact your local Service Centre Customer Services team.

Class 4 Drug Caution in use - MOMETASONE FUROATE 50 MICROGRAM / DOSE NASAL SPRAY, SUSPENSION

PilsCo Ltd. have identified a error relating to the wording on the outer carton label. The label affixed on the bottle states: ‘use within 2 weeks of first use’, instead of the correct label statement which should be: ‘use within 2 months of first use

MHRA drug alert link: https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/class-4-medicines-defect-information-mometasone-furoate-50-microgram-slash-dose-nasal-spray-suspension-pilsco-ltd-el-21-a-slash-33?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=e049222e-87bd-466b-af5c-870967570da8&utm_content=immediately    

This is a caution in use only we are not accepting stock returns.

Further Information

For more information, medical information queries or stock control queries, please contact: Nigel Kelly Nigel@ethigen.co.uk 013555 98155

If you have any questions, then please contact your local Service Centre Customer Services team.

Christmas and New Year 2021/22 Bank Holiday Opening Hours now available

To help keep our customers informed of changes to our service, we have published our Christmas and New Year 2021/22 Bank Holiday opening hours.

Please click here for more information.

Alphega Pharmacy Members Take Home Much Deserved Trophies at the C+D Awards for Outstanding Support They Bring to Community Pharmacy

The prestigious Chemist and Druggist Awards finally returned last week to a face-to-face ceremony at the Intercontinental Hotel in London, to recognise and celebrate the very best in the pharmacy industry. We are so delighted for three of our Alphega Pharmacy members who took home well-deserved Awards last Friday, for their outstanding work and vital support they bring to community pharmacy.

Congratulations to Lewis Pharmacy, Exmouth who walked away with the Training and Development Award, for the innovative Let’s Communicate Cancer programme, an e-learning portal to help equip pharmacy professionals with the tools and confidence to help patients on their cancer journey. The team also received a high commendation in the Independent Pharmacy of the Year category.

Dr Jackie Lewis had the following to say on this triumphant achievement: “It’s amazing to win an award and be recognised for all the hard work we put in. After a few difficult years in pharmacy and the current climate to also come out as highly commended in Independent Pharmacy of the Year on top of this is such a morale boost to the team and to share this with them is incredible.  To win the Training and Development award I am blown away. This win is going to be amazing for the publicity of this programme as we are looking at up-skilling the whole of community pharmacy with it. This programme will assist them with the early diagnosis of cancer to help their cancer patients and ensure they get the help they need.”

The ‘Let’s Communicate Cancer’ programme is an engaging e-learning portal for community pharmacy professionals, giving them access to real life case studies, slide shows, bit-sized quizzes and animations in order to give an entire pharmacy team the confidence, skills and knowledge to better help a cancer patients’ journey – from early diagnosis all the way through to treatment. 

Mandeep Mudhar, Head of Alphega Pharmacy UK had the following to say on the recent win: “I’m delighted to see Lewis Pharmacy recognised twice at the C+D awards. Jackie works tirelessly to champion the support and expertise community pharmacists can give to their patients and carers dealing with cancer, and this is on top of the numerous pharmacy services that Lewis Pharmacy offers – the consultation room in Lewis Pharmacy is never quiet!  A massive congratulations to Jackie and the whole team at Lewis Pharmacy.”

The E-learning module for the Let’s Communicate Cancer Programme can be accessed by pharmacy teams at https://www.bopa.org.uk/cancer-elearning-for-community-pharmacy-lets-communicate-cancer/.

A further congratulations goes to two fantastic Alphega Pharmacy members, firstly James Tibbs, AR Pharmacy for picking up the Community Pharmacist of the Year Award, which praises his community focus, strong business acumen, and commitment to patient care. Last but certainly not least, Landys Chemist in North-West London who were awarded with the Independent Pharmacy of the Year Award for their sharp focus on sustainability and plastic free approach to pharmacy.

Alliance Healthcare would like to congratulate our remarkable Alphega Pharmacy members for their outstanding work and commitment to community pharmacy.  

CLASS 3 RECALL - METHADONE TAB 5MG (PHYSEPTONE 5MG TABLETS)

Martindale Pharma is recalling the below batch of Methadone 5mg tablets as a precautionary measure due to the discolouration of the PVdC film in a small number of blister pockets

MHRA drug alert link: https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/class-3-medicines-recall-martindale-pharma-an-ethypharm-group-company-methadone-5mg-tablets-slash-physeptone-5mg-tablets-el-21-a-slash-31?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=c480fd76-d520-4a64-9570-f410b38c7b35&utm_content=immediately   

Further Information

For more information please contact:

Customer Services for stock control enquiries: Licensed@ethypharm.com

or for Medical Information enquiries: medinfo@martindalepharma.co.uk

Please return all affected stock to your original supplier for credit. Unfortunately we can only accept stock purchased from us (Alliance Healthcare Distribution Limited). Any other stock will be returned to your stores/Pharmacies.

Please note that anything not returned to us, or notified to us, within 3 months of this notification, cannot be reimbursed by way of a credit.

If you have any questions, then please contact your local Service Centre Customer Services team.

CLASS 3 RECALL - METHADONE TAB 5MG (PHYSEPTONE 5MG TABLETS)

Martindale Pharma is recalling the below batch of Methadone 5mg tablets as a precautionary measure due to the discolouration of the PVdC film in a small number of blister pockets

MHRA drug alert link: https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/class-3-medicines-recall-martindale-pharma-an-ethypharm-group-company-methadone-5mg-tablets-slash-physeptone-5mg-tablets-el-21-a-slash-31?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=c480fd76-d520-4a64-9570-f410b38c7b35&utm_content=immediately   

This product is a Schedule 2 Controlled Drug, so please use the Returns Portal for any recalled stock you may need to return to ensure there is authorization to return. When you are completing the portal if you are returning a split pack Please include exact number of tablets you are returning. If you are unable to use the Returns Portal please call Customer Services for assistance.

Further Information

For more information please contact:

Customer Services for stock control enquiries: Licensed@ethypharm.com

or for Medical Information enquiries: medinfo@martindalepharma.co.uk

Please return all affected stock to your original supplier for credit. Unfortunately we can only accept stock purchased from us (Alliance Healthcare Distribution Limited). Any other stock will be returned to your stores/Pharmacies.

Please note that anything not returned to us, or notified to us, within 3 months of this notification, cannot be reimbursed by way of a credit.

If you have any questions, then please contact your local Service Centre Customer Services team.

CLASS 2 RECALL - IKERVIS EYE DROPS 0.1% & VERKAZIA 0.1% EYE DROPS UD

SANTEN Oy (trading as Santen UK Limited) are recalling the below batches of products as a precautionary measure due to detection of particles/crystals of the active pharmaceutical ingredient ciclosporin. These particles have been detected following microscopic evaluation during stability monitoring

MHRA drug alert link: https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/class-2-medicines-recall-santen-oy-trading-as-santen-uk-limited-and-parallel-distributor-ikervis-1-mg-slash-ml-eye-drops-emulsion-and-verkazia-1-mg-slash-ml-eye-drops-emulsion-el-21-a-slash-30?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=ed7060ba-57ef-42eb-89b1-ac5b77c8be8a&utm_content=immediately  

Alliance do not stock the above products so we will not be accepting Customer returns on this recall.

Further Information

Santen UK Limited

For more information, please contact +44 (0)1727 615 110 or email enquiries@santen.co.uk

For medical information queries, please contact 0345 075 4863 or email medinfo@santen.co.uk

For supply queries, please contact AAH Customer services at 0344 561 8899

Orifarm A/S

For all enquiries please contact:

Paul Tobin (Responsible Person) on 07583577513 or email at paul.tobin@orifarm.com

Steven Cross (UK Parallel Import Sales Manager) on 07498975920 or email at steven.cross@orifarm.com

If you have any questions, then please contact your local Service Centre Customer Services team.

Class 4 Drug Caution in use - SLENYTO 1 MG AND 5MG PROLONGED RELEASE TABLETS

Flynn Pharma Ltd, distributors of Slenyto 1 mg and 5mg prolonged release tablets would like to notify you of an error with the patient information leaflets (PILs) that have been packaged in the below batches of products. These were an older version of the PIL which did not include the most up to date safety information

MHRA drug alert link: https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/class-4-medicines-defect-information-slenyto-1-mg-and-5mg-prolonged-release-tablets-distributed-by-flynn-pharma-ltd-el-21-a-slash-29?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=918a7eae-bd86-4833-899a-5114d92b0980&utm_content=immediately      

Alliance healthcare do not stock this product therefore we are not accepting stock returns.

Further Information

For more information, medical information queries or replacement PIL enquiries, please contact:

Flynn Pharma Ltd Medical Information Department on 01438 727822, email – medinfo@flynnpharma.com.

For stock control queries, please contact: Flynn Pharma Ltd on 01438 727822

If you have any questions, then please contact your local Service Centre Customer Services team.

COMPANY-LED DRUG ALERT - DOTAREM SOLUTION FOR INJECTION (10ML VIAL)

Guerbet Laboratories Ltd is recalling the below batches of Dotarem 10ml vials, due to the potential risk of a sterility break, based on the evidence of external leaks of the solution (dry product on the external surface of the vials)

MHRA drug alert link: https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/company-led-medicines-recall-dotarem-solution-for-injection-10ml-vial-pl-12308-slash-0016?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=6e2cf2cc-77cb-4717-a214-e7df6d710c9c&utm_content=immediately        

Alliance do not stock this product and therefore we are not accepting stock returns.

Company Contact for medical information enquiries

For medical information enquiries, please contact James Bradley (GDP RP):

james.bradley@guerbet.com

Company Contact for stock enquiries

For stock information enquiries,

UK Customer Services

uk.sales@guerbet.com

If you have any questions, then please contact your local Service Centre Customer Services team.