UK ‘pretty much out’ of life saving drug Creon – as 3 in 10 unable to pick up prescription due to medicine shortages

4 comments

1. In the case of Creon it’s a global supply issue – [https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/shortage/creon-pancrelipase-pancreas-powder-supply-shortage_en.pdf](https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/shortage/creon-pancrelipase-pancreas-powder-supply-shortage_en.pdf)

2. And all of the alternative products aren’t made in enough quantities to meet demand. The amount of time pharmacists and technicians spend trying to just source basic drugs now has become ridiculous. Brexit certainly hasn’t helped but it’s been steadily worsening over the last 10 years

3. Oh no, us exporting our manufacturing overseas mainly to China. A hostile nation that likes to use things just like this as essentially blackmail to get things it wants. Is a bad idea? What a shocking revelation.

   Until we’re back to being a self sustainable nation, we’ll never be out of the danger zone.

4. From [this article](https://www.cysticfibrosis.org.uk/news/our-work-on-creon-shortages):

   > The production of Creon relies heavily on pancreatic enzymes sourced from pigs. Viatris, the distributor of Creon, has told us that a shortage of these raw ingredients is straining the manufacturing process and disrupting global supply chains.

   > A global push for leaner pigs has resulted in fewer available enzymes, making it harder to meet demand and requiring increased manufacturing capacity.

   The pork industry claims that the “global push for leaner pigs” is due to “consumer demand.” But I have a sneaking suspicion that, like most things, it’s going that way because leaner pigs are cheaper and therefore more profitable.

   [Oh look at that, they are.](https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/pdf/10.5555/20133148106)

   > With the large different in energetic efficiency,
   producing leaner pigs has great economic appeal.