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Supplies of a number of antimicrobials used to treat tuberculosis will be ‘intermittent’ until at least the end of the year, the MHRA has warned as it advised prescribers to limit prescriptions to a maximum of one month’s supply.

A national patient safety alert issued by the MHRA on Tuesday July 29 revealed that seven TB antimicrobials have been affected by shortages, including three Rifampicin products and certain strengths of Rifinah, Rifater, Voractiv and Pyrazinamide tablets.

“The supply disruption is caused by a combination of factors,” it added without providing further details. 

Ethambutol tablets, Isoniazid tablets, Rifinah 150mg tablets and Mycobutin 150mg tablets are still available “but cannot support a full increase in demand” the alert stated.

The MHRA called on prescribers to limit prescriptions of affected medicines to one-month’s supply to conserve stock and amend prescriptions when a patient’s usual treatment is unavailable.

The alert calls on prescribers to prioritise patients with active TB for treatment and to make decisions around patients with latent TB infection according to their level clinical urgency, with contacts of active pulmonary TB cases deemed most urgent and new entrants to the UK aged under 35 deemed lower priority. 

Manufacturer Sanofi is working with NHS England to allocate available stock and check valid prescriptions “before releasing the medicine to ensure fair distribution,” said the medicines watchdog. 

The MHRA added that it is working with the Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS) and regional pharmacy procurement specialists to co-ordinate access to “limited quantities” of unlicensed imports of anti-TB medicines.

Read more: Medicines shortages a chronic structural challenge says APPG

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