Optimmune

Re: Optimmune

Hannah Wynne Richards — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 11:26:35 GMT

Hooray !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wynne

Re: Optimmune

Arlo Guthrie — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 09:32:54 GMT

Update here: http://www.vetsurgeon.org/blogs/veterinary_news/archive/2010/01/29/11885.aspx

Re: Optimmune

Melanie Dass — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:06:34 GMT

I am the product manager for Optimmune at Intervet/Schering Plough Animal Health. Firstly, I would sincerely apologise for the shortage of Optimmune - as a veterinary surgeon myself I do understand this issues this causes in practice. The engineering problem which has caused the shortage is entirely unrelated to the issues causing the stock-out of our Nobivac Lepto vaccine at the start of 2009, and both issues have been rectified. Optimmune is back in production and we are expecting the new batch shortly. This is a Global issue, but we have managed to source a limited amount of South African Optimmune for the UK. This is being delivered from the wholesalers as we speak. This has been repacked in UK boxes and inserts, although you may notice the tube itself (which cannot be changed or overlabelled) is slightly different from the UK pack. An additional explanatory leaflet has been included to reassure owners that the product is identical to their usual supply (in fact it was made in the same factory before shipping to South Africa).

We are anticipating being back in full supply in a few weeks- by the end of February at the latest, and hopefully sooner. I do not have an exact date as once manufactured as the product must undergo some processes with variable times before it is available from the wholesalers. I would like assure you that we are doing everything possible to make this a top priority for everyone involved in the process of getting Optimmune back to the UK as soon as possible.

The allocations have been derived from historical usage of the product for each practice branch, to try and maintain supply to clinical cases for as long as possible. For the vast majority of practices this has been sufficient and has prevented stockpiling in some areas of the UK and product unavailability in others. However, we did not have enough stock remaining to allocate a full monthly supply to practices in January. We have actually had some returns this month, from practices that have sufficient shelf stock and do not need their allocation. We are making this available to other practices so please contact our Veterinary Support Group on 01908 685685 and we will try (if able) to re-allocate stock to meet your imminent clinical needs.

Re: Optimmune

Ian Mostyn — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:38:39 GMT

[quote user="robloxley"]!! And to really irritate, how come I can find an alternate supply of Optimmune or 'recipes' for Sandimmune, and the combined might of Intervet/Schering Plough can only suggest 'use false tears'??? How long ago was it we had similar issues with their vaccines???

[/quote]

That is exactly why we stopped using their vaccines and moved to Fort Dodge. Even a year after the merger, we still didn't have a full-time rep to speak to. Management at Intervet/SP need a good kick up the ****. At least they are a little more forthcoming with information this time. How about this for an option, if a licensed drug, still within its patent protection, is unavailable for more than 3 months, other manufacturers can sell a generic version.

Ian

Re: Optimmune

Rob Loxley — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:46:04 GMT

[quote user="Ian Mostyn"]We have been getting regular stocks direct from Intervet and so far have no problem. I have been advising people to be careful how much they use but so far, stocks are OK here.[/quote]

Unfortunately our allocation for this month was just 2 tubes and they advise it will be 1 tube in February!! And to really irritate, how come I can find an alternate supply of Optimmune or 'recipes' for Sandimmune, and the combined might of Intervet/Schering Plough can only suggest 'use false tears'??? How long ago was it we had similar issues with their vaccines???

Re: Optimmune

Ian Mostyn — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:13:07 GMT

We have been getting regular stocks direct from Intervet and so far have no problem. I have been advising people to be careful how much they use but so far, stocks are OK here.

Ian

Re: Optimmune

Rob Loxley — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:08:52 GMT

We have sourced a batch of 3.5g tubes of 0.2% cycsporine eye ointment from Moorfields Pharmaceuticals - Optimmune! They stock Optimmune for use in people and will happily sell back to the 'veterinary side', albeit at a higher price than our wholesalers.

Re: Optimmune

Richard Kelly — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:32:11 GMT

Thanks for your reply. Yes, that has been considered, and was done in the past, I believe, but in our new H & S - aware world, someone has raised the health risks of handling cyclosporin

Re: Optimmune

Wren — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:24:39 GMT

I believe our SA side are using Cyclosporin capsule contents mixed with olive oil as recommended by the opthalmologist who handles most of our referrals (Gary Lewin?)