Multiple sclerosis sufferers who depend on an injected drug that expires tomorrow have expressed concern over its effectiveness even though the health authorities have said it can still be used for another 20 days.
Thirty-four patients registered with the Pharmacy of Your Choice scheme need the injection, which is believed to reduce the frequency of attacks of the disease of the central nervous system.
An MS sufferer who has been prescribed the treatment for seven years and injects it on alternative days said she was nervous about having to use an expired product. This was reiterated by another sufferer who a fortnight ago was given two months’ supply of the treatment with an August expiry date.
A spokeswoman for the Health Parliamentary Secretary said the manufacturer Novartis had given Extavia a 20-day shelf-life extension.
“To avoid the risk of potentially ending up with an out-of-stock situation, it was decided to obtain a formal extension of the expiry date,” she said.
“New stock of the medicine is already in the department’s storage facility and it will be made available when required. The prevailing stock, with the extended expiry date, is perfectly safe and will be used accordingly. It is incorrect if patients are given the impression that medicines with an extended expiry date are less effective. The extension was granted and certified by the manufacturer Novartis”.
The prevailing stock, with the extended expiry date, is perfectly safe
The secretariat did not clarify when fresh stock would be available.
The manufacturer said the stock delivered this week would expire in April.
A spokeswoman said Novartis had always delivered stock within a shorter timeframe than that stipulated by tender conditions. On Monday, following a recent order from the Central Procurement and Supplies Unit, the manufacturer supplied the new stock.
She confirmed that the stock had a shelf-life of two years from the date of manufacture.
“Since the stock in question was manufactured in September 2012, the medical and regulatory experts have confirmed that the stock can be used until 24 months from the date of manufacture.”