The fake weight loss jab black market; and what’s next for medicines law enforcement?

Janet Morrison on the highs and lows of pharmacy contract negotiation

In this episode, reporter Emily Warner is joined by the chief executive of Community Pharmacy England (CPE), Janet Morrison, for an exclusive look behind the scenes of the pharmacy contract negotiations [https://www.thepharmacist.co.uk/community/community-pharmacy-340m-contract-funding-boost-significant-but-not-enough/]. Ms Morrison unpacks what actually happened during negotiations, why the CPE committee was so reluctant to accept the deal [https://www.thepharmacist.co.uk/in-depth/pharmacy-contract/pharmacists-concerned-they-will-see-very-little-of-contract-funding-boost/], and what the ‘programme of reform [https://www.thepharmacist.co.uk/community/cpe-polls-sector-to-understand-whether-the-contract-will-ease-financial-pressure/]’ will entail. She explains what she is most proud of and most disappointed by in the new contract, as well as the many proposals CPE made that fell by the wayside during negotiations. And sheds light on the two-month delay in reaching an agreement which sector leaders described as ‘inexcusable’ given the financial pressures facing pharmacy – including the rise in business rates, increased wages, and inflationary costs.  Free registration for The Pharmacist newsletters here [https://www.thepharmacist.co.uk/newsletter/]. This epsiode was produced by Emily Warner.

The fake weight loss jab black market; and what’s next for medicines law enforcement?

In the first episode of our new podcast The Pharmacist's Podcast, reporter Emily Warner travels to the leafy village of South Mimms to meet Andy Morling, head of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA’s) criminal enforcement unit.  Andy and his team have led the UK’s response to a growing black market for illegal weight loss medicines. They recently seized almost 2,000 doses of unauthorised weight loss drugs [https://www.thepharmacist.co.uk/news/almost-2000-unauthorised-weight-loss-drugs-seized-in-mhra-raids/] following raids on two properties in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. These premises were believed to have been used for the manufacture and distribution of unlicensed weight loss meds, including retatrutide and tirzepatide, as well as peptide products. And in October last year, they dismantled a large-scale illegal manufacturing facility in Northampton [https://www.thepharmacist.co.uk/in-practice/breaking-illegal-weight-loss-jab-factory-dismantled-in-major-mhra-raid/] – what authorities believe to be the largest-ever global seizure of its kind. In this podcast episode, Andy explains how these operations are uncovered and shut down and discusses the risks posed to patients who obtain medicines outside regulated channels. He also discusses how the market for illegal medicines is evolving and what future enforcement activity could look like. Free registration for The Pharmacist newsletters here [https://www.thepharmacist.co.uk/newsletter/]. This epsiode was produced by Emily Warner.