''I get a lot of reports about Milan and Bologna. This is a problem I encountered too“: this is the alarm that Fedez confides in some stories published on his Instagram profile, adding that “Having had surgery to remove most of my pancreas, I need enzymes to eat and process food. There is only one company in Italy that produces pancreatic enzymes and it seems that they have not been found in pharmacies for a month. I had a small quantity of these but they have been out of stock for a month now and now I can't find them. How can we solve it? Friends who produce pancreatic enzymes produce them, otherwise we can't eat or we eat but when we go to the bathroom it's not fun. Help us, enzyme friends''. And in other stories he adds: ''It really seems that the medicine no longer exists in northern Italy, send us the reports to the Fedez Foundation. We will contact Aifa'', then emphasizing that ''The situation is quite serious, as if specific medications for heart patients are missing and cannot be found.'.
The Ministry of Health: “Situation currently being monitored, adequate information of an operational nature has already been provided”
“This is a known situation, independent of the regulatory activities of Aifa, which has already been providing patients and healthcare professionals with adequate information, including operational information, for some time.“. Thus in a note from the Ministry of Health relating to the shortage of drugs to treat pancreatic diseases. The shortage of this drug, necessary for patients suffering from pancreatic insufficiency, has in fact lasted for months and had already been reported.
“To date, the only manufacturing company (Viatris Italia Srl) has communicated the impossibility of satisfying demand due to excess demand.“, adds the ministry. “However, as Aifa has already communicated through the procedures usually used in the event of a shortage of medicines, the Agency authorizes health establishments to import similar medicines authorized abroad, in the event that the establishments themselves -themselves encounter supply discontinuities at the distribution level. networks to which they have access. In addition, pharmacies that cannot find the product in the usual distribution channels can place an order directly with the owner through the specific Customer Service department.“.
The ministry assures that it is following the issue “with great attention and implementing all relevant activities aimed at guaranteeing the therapeutic continuity of patients”.
The position of the sole manufacturing company
Viatris specified that it had “has received indications from the drug's manufacturer, Abbott, that there are some difficulties in supplying Creon (pancrelipase). Supply difficulties are due to strong global demand. These difficulties are not linked to quality, safety or efficiency problems related to the production of Créon.“. The company confirms to ANSA, as already announced by the Italian Medicines Agency in a note last October, that “supply difficulties could continue until 12/31/2025“engage yourself to”promptly communicate any changes“.
