Our latest update on PERT
We have been working with our community and fellow charities to continue to seek solutions to current PERT supply issues.
Our collaborative working group of charities and patient organisations continues to meet monthly – here is this month’s update:
PERT Supply
CREON: incoming supply, from contracted UK supplier, remains at 90-95% of usual demand – this is likely to continue until the end of 2026. We have been assured that if there is capacity to increase any supply before that date, it will happen.
To assist in locating supply availability, Viatris have established a helpline for both patients and pharmacists:
For CREON: Call 0800 808 6410, open Mon-Fri 9am – 5pm
NUTRIZYM: ran out of stock completely, earlier this year – due to increasing demand from those unable to obtain Creon or other alternatives. We have been informed that not only is stock now back up to usual levels, but there has also been increased production – which is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
Zentiva have also established a helpline to locate supply availability:
For NUTRIZYM: Patients can call 08000 902408 or email ukcustomerservices@zentiva.com
Pharmacists to call: 0844 879 3188.
Royal Pharmaceutical Society report
We also welcome and support the recently published report by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society:
“Medicines Shortages: Solutions for empty shelves”
Available to read online or download here: https://www.rpharms.com/medicinesshortages
Advice and information
Our Helpline remains open Tuesday-Thursday 10am-4pm 0800 434 6476
Please note, however that:
opening times may vary during December but will return to schedule in the New Year.
We have also continued to work with members of the Pancreatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland – version 4 of their Position Statement is now published and includes updated advice and information for both patients and clinicians.
This can be found at https://www.psgbi.org/position-statement-pert-shortage/
Re-launch of PERT Survey planned for January 2025
Please never doubt that your voice is heard – and that we are here to help.
We would once again like to thank those who have completed our PERT survey earlier in the year.
This provided voices and experiences to dry numbers and figures, allowing us to illustrate how important this medication is and how vital addressing current shortages are.
We plan to re-open the survey next month.
We would ask those who have previously completed it – to please do so again: as this may help us to see if there has been a change – for better or worse – so that we can further concentrate our focus and efforts.
We are rather concerned that lower numbers of calls regarding this problem does not necessarily mean an improvement in supply.
We would also welcome input from those, who take PERT, who did not take part in the earlier survey, . . . even if you have had no difficulty in PERT supply!
We will add link to survey to website in January – and let you know when it is officially open.
THANK YOU x