This Friday, the national regulator recommended that pharmacies provide no more than two packs of the drug Creon, used to treat diseases such as cystic fibrosis and pancreatic cancer, and which is experiencing supply difficulties in Europe.
An information circular from the National Medicines Authority (Infarmed) said that Creon, which contains pancreatin, was creating supply difficulties at European level that were expected to persist for the next two years.
According to the document, this situation is due to limited production capacity associated with increased demand at the global level, which “will lead to situations of supply shortages that will occur periodically.”
Viatris Healthcare estimates that the situation will resolve in the second half of 2026 with an increase in production of these drugs, Infarmed also claims.
This is a medicine that contains pancreatic enzymes (amylase, lipase and protease) and is used to treat exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, that is, situations in which the pancreas does not produce enough enzymes.
“Examples of such situations are cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic and gastric cancer, and pancreatectomy,” says Infarmed, adding that pancreatin is included in the list of critical life-saving drugs.
In this regard, the circular recommends that pharmacies dispense Creon only for up to one month of treatment, which corresponds to a maximum of two packages, so that the available quantity can meet the needs of all patients undergoing treatment.
“To ensure careful management of available quantities, pharmacies should refrain from holding large quantities of these drugs in stock,” the document continues.
As for doctors, Infarmed recommends limiting the prescription of the drug to the minimum effective dose in the case of patients who are already undergoing treatment and there is no possibility of prescribing alternative therapy.
The export of this medicine is prohibited and will remain so until supplies return to normal, Infarmed also states, adding that the pharmaceutical company believes that “supply disruptions can be avoided through better management of available stocks” in Portugal, in coordination between all agents in the drug supply system and the regulator.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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