Prescribing advice
A National Patient Safety Alert was issued on 24th May 2024.
Switching between products
SPS has produced a conversion tool to help identify equivalent and alternative products for patients currently taking any UK licensed PERT.
Find PERT alternatives and equivalences
Information for patients
Clinicians can share information with patients to help them manage the issue and address their questions.
The Cystic Fibrosis Trust has provided advice aimed to support patients manage supply issues with Creon.
The Pancreatic Society has also provided a PERT position statement for patients.
Where appropriate, health care professionals may need to advise patients on the dangers of purchasing medicines of unknown provenance over the internet.
About our stock information
SPS is not a stock holding organisation. This page is maintained by the Medicines Supply Team at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and reflects the national supply situation. Stock availability may be subject to local variation and SPS is unable to handle any questions relating to availability.
Creon products
Creon products are subject to the following stock advice.
In stock
The following licensed products are available currently:
- Creon Micro Pancreatin 60.12mg gastro-resistant granules
Affected
The following active supply issues exist:
- Creon 10,000 unit gastro-resistant capsules
- Creon 25,000 unit gastro-resistant capsules
Shortage of Creon capsules contains further details.
Nutrizym products
Nutrizym products are subject to the following stock advice.
In stock
Licensed products are not routinely available currently.
Affected
The following active supply issues exist:
- Nutizym 22 gastro-resistant capsules
Shortage of Nutrizym 22 gastro-resistant capsules contains further details.
Pancrex products
Pancrex products are subject to the following stock advice.
In stock
The following licensed products are available currently:
- Pancrex V oral powder
Affected
The following active supply issues exist:
- Pancrex V capsules
- Pancrex 125mg capsules
Shortage of Pancrex V products contains further details.
Unlicensed imports
Importers
The following importers of unlicensed medicines may be able to source pancreatic enzyme replacement therapies.
- Clinigen
- Chemys Limited
- Mawdsleys
- Smartway Pharmaceuticals
- Target Healthcare
- Smartway Pharmaceuticals
Product ranges and lead times may vary. Also note that the enzyme composition of unlicensed imports may differ from UK licensed products and it is therefore important to refer to the corresponding Summary of Product Characteristics for specific product information.
Guidance on ordering and prescribing unlicensed imports
Any decision to prescribe an unlicensed medicine must consider the relevant guidance and NHS Trust or local governance procedures. Unlicensed imports do not undergo any central quality assessment or suitability evaluation. Therefore, any import must be locally assessed in line with local unlicensed medicines processes. Please see the links below for further information:
- The supply of unlicensed medicinal products, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
- Professional Guidance for the Procurement and Supply of Specials, Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)
- Prescribing unlicensed medicines, General Medical Council (GMC)
Further reading
SPS has a range of additional resources on unlicensed medicines and their use.
Understanding unlicensed medicines
Update history
- PERT equivalence and alternative mini-tool added.
- Clinigen added as provider of unlicensed PERTs.
- Published