Apoquel rationing ?

Re: Apoquel rationing ?

grumpyoldman — Fri, 23 May 2014 00:49:49 GMT

We have had about 30 patients on it and now have none , and they are now all moaning like hell , we can go back to other treatments but they are already kicking off over side effects . I think they thought it would be a slow burner like Atopica , mainly due to the initial vomiting problems ,but it really took off well here.Interestingly the internet pharmacies appeared to have missed the boat too , I wondered if they had been stock piling it ,but they have none either ......

Re: Apoquel rationing ?

Pete Andrew — Thu, 22 May 2014 17:02:32 GMT

We've been told by the Zoetis rep it will be 2015 before we see any. Was going to start a couple of cases on it a couple of weeks ago and didn't get anything, so we are no worse off....

Re: Apoquel rationing ?

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 22 May 2014 14:15:08 GMT

Well I'm the lucky one, my allocation is more that I need but I'm not going to make it available just in case I need it.

Yes its inconvenient but I really can't see why everyone has their knickers in a twist over this. This sort of supply problem is not unusual (happened with Stronghold and Pfizer vaccines) and there are drugs we need far more urgently and or use more frequently that are unavailable/difficult to source such as ACP or Vit K.

Yes it is nothing short of the best thing since sliced bread but its not like we've been using if for years. It surely is not beyond our wit to go back to the previous treatment regimes. I love it but I've still been able to manage the overwhelming majority of my atopic patients over the years without it and its not as if everyone can afford it. Malaseb shampoo would be a far greater loss.

At least you know the client can't go up to the practice up the road or on the internet as they can't get it at all now!!

Re: Apoquel rationing ?

Anthony Dennison — Thu, 22 May 2014 10:10:32 GMT

[quote user="robloxley"]Anyway, give them 6 months to a year and maybe it'll all be sorted?[/quote]

The main problem is they didn't realise how popular it was going to be, so supply has monetarily been outstripped by demand. To stop the entire stock from disappearing, they have taken the unfortunate approach to ration it out. Annoying for everyone, but I can see why they've done it.

Speak to your local Zoetis rep and plead your case - if you have cases that have been on it for a while they should ration you out enough for that case alone, but none for new cases.

Re: Apoquel rationing ?

Rob Loxley — Tue, 20 May 2014 22:06:26 GMT

[quote user="emma o'connor"]the internet companies started to send it to clients across the EU where it didn't have a licence for use yet[/quote]

Um, it has a pan-european licence. Anyway, give them 6 months to a year and maybe it'll all be sorted?

Re: Apoquel rationing ?

Tanya Fielding — Tue, 20 May 2014 13:27:55 GMT

we have been told we are getting no allocation as we have only ordered once. So no chance of getting it for the client is doing well on it or our nurse who prescribed it by a dermatologist.

Re: Apoquel rationing ?

ChrisBVSc — Tue, 20 May 2014 11:45:40 GMT

We've been informed of this and it's going to be a big issue, we see lots of skin cases here (a colleague has a dermatology cert) & for many long-term cases Apoquel has been a wonder-drug. The amount we've been allocated isn't even enough to cover 1 of our several branches. Not impressed with the manufacturers planning - this was clearly going to be a big seller!

Re: Apoquel rationing ?

emma o'connor — Mon, 19 May 2014 22:23:37 GMT

According to our stock manager the problem was due to internet pharmacies. Enough apoquel was initially manufactured for supply to countries where it was licenced for use, and should have met expected demand. However the internet companies started to send it to clients across the EU where it didn't have a licence for use yet, leaving not enough stock for the rest of us. Took the manufacturers by surprise.

Re: Apoquel rationing ?

Nicola Lawlor — Mon, 19 May 2014 20:32:10 GMT

I am quite cross about this as I contacted the manufacturer about this a few weeks ago after a nurse read something on a nursing forum, and they mailed me back to tell me it wasn't a UK issue, just as USA issue. grrrrr

Re: Apoquel rationing ?

Dagmar Steele — Mon, 19 May 2014 20:20:15 GMT

same here. apparently they have been overwhelmed by the success and have now decided to only market it in the UK, US and Germany for the time being. Seems even this doesn't free enough of the stuff to cover these markets. Pity, as others have said the stuff works great and clients love it.

Re: Apoquel rationing ?

James Laidlaw — Mon, 19 May 2014 20:03:51 GMT

Same here. Apparently manufacturing takes 12 months...

Re: Apoquel rationing ?

emma o'connor — Mon, 19 May 2014 19:53:17 GMT

Yes in the same position here. Our allocation doesn't even cover our patients currently taking apoquel, let alone starting any new cases on it. I think we are heading for a rough few months rationing out the drugs. Such a shame as we have been very impressed with it and the clients love it.