Unavailable Treatments

In summer 2018 we received a number of reports of difficulty obtaining Ceanel Shampoo, which is commonly used to manage scalp psoriasis. In September 2018 we contacted Alliance Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Ceanel Shampoo, who confirmed that the product is currently out of production and they do not yet have a date for when it may be available again.

A representative from the manufacturer stated 'Unfortunately, Ceanel shampoo is currently out of production as we are having difficulty in sourcing some of the raw materials. We do not have a date for when it may be available.

In the meantime, we would recommend that patients discuss suitable alternatives with a healthcare professional (e.g. GP or Pharmacist).

There were no safety concerns for products on the market, however, all stock will now have passed its expiry date.'

If you have any questions or would like further information, the manufacturer can be contacted directly either by phone on 01249 466 966, or by email at medinfo@alliancepharma.co.uk. 

In February 2016, the manufacturers of Curatoderm (Almirall) issued the Psoriasis Association with the following statement:

In recent months we have been unable to supply Curatoderm into the UK in either the ointment and lotion forms. This was due to a change in the manufacturing process at our API supplier which requires the approval of the UK health authorities. Almirall is expecting the approval within the next six to eight weeks. The Almirall supply organisation is prepared to deliver both forms of Curatoderm directly after getting the approval of the UK health authorities. We will issue a further update when we have an exact date for availability. We would like to apologies for any convenience this may have caused and thank you for bearing with us in this matter. 

In June, we got back in touch with Almirall due to there being no change in the availability of Curatoderm. They have confirmed that they are still experiencing issues and there is currently no date for Curatoderm to return to availability. 

Update

The availability issues surrounding Curatoderm have been resolved. We recently received the following update from Almirall:

As you may know Curatoderm has been out of stock since November 2015 and this was due to a Regulatory issue concerning the active substance. We are delighted to report that this has now been fully resolved and that Curatoderm will be available for sale in our PreWholesalers Alloga Limited from the week beginning 15 August 2016.

If you need any further assistance in relation to Curatoderm availability please contact Almirall’s Customer Service Department on 020 7160 2500.

After many people expressed concern over the disappearance of the Polytar® range for a number of months, the manufacturers confirmed its discontinuation in 2014.

A statement received by the Psoriasis Association from the manufacturer of Polytar (GSK) reads:-

"We understand how important Polytar® is for our consumers and have been working diligently to identify how we could bring the brand back to market since 2012. Providing our consumers with the highest quality products is our main priority. We have had to take the difficult decision to discontinue the current range as we have been unable to source a supply of the active ingredient which would meet even basic Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. We appreciate this is upsetting for those consumers who have relied on these products for a number of years. However, we are urgently exploring alternative product options and hope to launch an alternative product in the future.”

The discontinuation applies to Polytar® Liquid, Polytar® Plus and Polytar® Emollient.

If you still have supplies of Polytar®, they can still be used (providing they are still in date).  Should you wish to discuss this decision with the manufacturer please contact GSK Customer Relations on 0800 783 8881 or customer.relations@gsk.com

Update

Polytar shampoo was re-launched in July 2016. Unfortunately, the rest of the Polytar range remains discontinued.

Many readers will remember that there was an issue last year with topical steroids manufactured by GSK, resulting in a lack of availability for a number of months. This was resolved, however there continues to be an ongoing and separate issue with one particular steroid, Trimovate. We have received the following statement from GSK:

“GSK has identified an issue with one active pharmaceutical ingredient used to produce Trimovate (clobetasone oxytetracycline nystatin) at one of our GSK facilities.

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this supply constraint is causing patients. Patient safety is always our priority, and patients rightly need to be able to have trust in our products. We are committed to delivering medicines and products that are made to the highest standards. For this reason, we are not releasing Trimovate from the manufacturing site until we have investigated the cause and the scope of the problem.

We are doing our utmost to bring the supply of Trimovate back to normal as soon as possible which we anticipate will be by early 2017. In the meantime, patients should seek advice from their healthcare professional on suitable, alternative treatment options.”

Trimovate is unique as it combines a corticosteroid with an antifungal and an antibiotic, making it good for treating inflammatory skin conditions where there is also a bacterial or fungal condition present. It is not a treatment that would be regularly used for psoriasis where no infection is present, however it may be particularly useful for psoriasis in the sensitive or intimate areas, which are more prone to infection. If you are prescribed Trimovate by your GP or Dermatologist, do make them aware of the current manufacturing issues so that they can prescribe an alternative or alternatives.

Should you wish to discuss any further with the manufacturer please contact GSK Customer Relations on 0800 783 8881 or customer.relations@gsk.com