Shortages of the medication which allows people with pancreatic cancer to digest food must be urgently addressed, the charity Pancreatic Cancer UK has said.
Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (Pert) provides the enzymes people affected by pancreatic cancer need to absorb nutrients.
Not being able to take the correct dose of Pert could leave them less able to tolerate treatment, with a poorer quality of life, and even at risk of starvation.
The charity said supplies of the tablets to the UK have been disrupted for more than a year and shortages could last until at least 2026.
It has invited MPs to an event at the Houses of Parliament on February 26 to discuss the shortages which it estimates could be affecting at least 61,152 people nationwide as people with cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis and neuroendocrine cancers also rely on Pert.
Michael Harvey, 72, of Northallerton, North Yorkshire, has been dependent on Pert since he had successful surgery after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2017.
Now he must take eight tablets before every meal and four with every snack.
“There has been an erratic supply of Pert for the whole time I’ve been on them – over seven years – but it’s never been as bad as it’s been in the last year,” he said.
“It just seems to lurch from crisis to crisis. Every month we put in a repeat prescription with hope more than expectation.
“I’m always worried where the next month’s supply is coming from.”
Mr Harvey’s struggles to obtain Pert have seen him repeatedly change pharmacy, drive 20 miles to other towns and appeal for help from his MP, former prime minister Rishi Sunak.
PERT is a vital medicine for people with pancreatic cancer, but right now there are shortages across the UK.
We need a proactive response from the Government to end these shortages.
Invite your MP to our emergency PERT event in Westminster on 26th Feb: https://t.co/wpDglj1q1o pic.twitter.com/4R0yVBFseS
— Pancreatic Cancer UK (@PancreaticCanUK) January 30, 2025
He has typically only received 100 tablets at a time (3-4 days supply) rather than his full prescription of 800 tablets.
Mr Harvey added: “I’ve come very close to having to think about rationing. But by jumping up and down and keeping the pressure on, I’ve always managed to keep just enough of a reserve supply.
“I absolutely worry about running out. I had my pancreas removed entirely and am reliant on these tablets.
“It’s been a problem that’s been largely ignored, that has been dealt with by a written response from the manufacturer.
“The problem of erratic supply still hasn’t been addressed and we can’t solve a supply problem with soundbites.”
Emmerdale actor Tony Audenshaw’s wife Ruth was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in late 2015.
She had surgery but the cancer returned and she died in April 2017 at the age of 43.
The actor told the PA news agency that having access to Pert allowed Ruth to have a “bit of normality”.
“It was really simple pleasures, going for a coffee, for a bite to eat with her mates, how important Pert is for that.”
He said Ruth loved ice-cream and was still able to enjoy it despite her illness because of Pert.
“So you take a Pert, you have an ice-cream, half the ice cream, you’d have another Pert, you’d finish the ice cream, you’d have another Pert.
“She had a little pill box she took everywhere.”
Audenshaw, who has played Bob Hope in the long-running ITV soap opera for 25 years, added: “She loved the fact that she could still do that.
“There’s a shortage of Pert at the moment and they are trying to do something about it but some people are being denied that Pert and it’s a massive problem because it’s the simplest things they can’t do when they are life limited.”
Pancreatic Cancer UK said the consequences of going without Pert, which is also known by the brand names Creon, Nutrizym and Pancrex in the UK, or not taking the correct dose can be very serious.
People may become too unwell to have surgery (the only potentially curative treatment for pancreatic cancer), less able to tolerate treatments such as chemotherapy or may struggle to manage debilitating symptoms, diminishing their quality of life.
A survey of 572 people by Pancreatic Cancer UK in 2024 found eight out of 10 people (82%) had struggled to obtain their usual Pert prescription on more than one occasion, almost one in five (19%) had frequently gone without taking Pert and nearly three-quarters (71%) were taking a lower dose than they needed or had altered their diet.
Nearly three quarters (73%) of those surveyed said their ability to manage their symptoms had become more difficult.
Diana Jupp, chief executive of Pancreatic Cancer UK, said there has not been enough progress towards finding solutions to the shortages and the situation cannot be allowed to continue.
“Thousands of people affected by pancreatic cancer rely on taking Pert tablets every time they eat simply to digest their food and absorb nutrients – something most of us take for granted.
“That they are having to take desperate measures which can put their health, wellbeing and their eligibility for treatment at risk is totally unacceptable.”
A Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) spokesperson said: “We know how frustrating and distressing medicine supply issues can be for patients, and the pharmacists and clinicians caring for them.
“We’ve issued guidance to healthcare professionals and encourage anyone concerned to consult their clinician.
“There are supply issues with Creon that are impacting countries throughout Europe caused by a limited availability of raw ingredients and manufacturing capacity constraints.
“We are working closely with industry, the NHS, manufacturers and other partners in the supply chain to resolve the impact of these supply issues as quickly as possible.”
Nick Kaye, chair of the National Pharmacy Association said: “Medicine shortages not only cause huge inconvenience but can risk serious patient safety issues, particular in the cases of Pert and Creon.
“Pharmacists are highly trained health care practitioners, who should be permitted to use their professional judgment to supply an appropriate alternative medicine in the event of the prescribed version being unavailable.
“This prevents a patient having to return to their GP or go home without having got hold of vital medication.
“It is hugely frustrating that pharmacists are not currently permitted to do this and it is disappointing that recent recommendations from the Health Select Committee to allow this were rejected by the government.
“Without government action to address shortages, many patients will continue to go without their medicines, putting their health and wellbeing at risk.”
A spokesperson for Viatris, marketing authorisation holder and distributor of Creon in the UK, said: “We were notified by our third-party manufacturing partner, Abbott, of a global supply constraint of Creon.
“This constrained supply is due to high global demand and reaching maximum manufacturing supply output.”
The spokesperson said current production is unable to meet all demand and there is no issue with the quality, safety, or efficacy of Creon.
Some strengths of Creon are available in the UK, they said, adding: “Plans to reduce the constraints and increase capacity are underway.
“During this supply constraint, we hope to be able to supply approximately 90-95% of the average monthly demand for Creon lipase units into the market each month, until this supply constraint is resolved.”
The spokesperson said: “Viatris is currently receiving a continuous supply of Creon from Abbott. Distribution of all marketed strengths of Creon from Abbott to our distribution partners and onwards to pharmacies in the UK will continue as shipments arrive.
“We are committed to providing reliable access to medicines for our patients, and fully appreciate how important this medicine is for individuals who rely on pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (Pert) and understand the challenges this situation poses for patients and their healthcare professionals.”
The spokesperson added that Viatris is in regular contact with DHSC, patient association groups and healthcare professionals, adding: “Viatris is also in contact with Abbott daily to mitigate the supply constraint and reduce the impact on patients.
“Viatris has been assured that Abbott is taking all necessary measures to provide Creon in a timely manner to minimise the impact on patients.”
A spokesperson for Essential Pharma said: “We are aware of the shortages of other products for this treatment in the UK, which have led to a significant increase in demand for our niche product, Pancrex.
“We have been working hard with suppliers of raw materials and our manufacturing partners to increase supply of our product as quickly as possible, in order to help patients impacted by the shortages of the other products.
“We are also working closely with the relevant authorities to support these efforts.
“As soon as more Pancrex is available we will work to get supplies to patients through the usual channels as quickly as we can.”
A spokesperson for Zentiva, which makes Nutrizym, said: “The UK is currently facing a shortage of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (Pert) products, mainly due to supply issues affecting a widely used alternative. As a result, demand for Nutrizym 22 and other Pert products has surged.
“Although supplies of Nutrizym 22 remain steady, stock is running out more quickly than usual, leading to temporary shortages.
“Zentiva is working closely with DHSC to manage supplies and minimise disruption. However, the situation is expected to improve only when the market leader’s product returns to full availability.”
PA has approached Abbott for comment.
Advice for anyone struggling to get their usual Pert is available on the Pancreatic Cancer UK website.
The Creon customer service line can be reached via 0800 8086410 from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm and is free to call.
– Tony Audenshaw is one of 700 runners taking part in the TCS London Marathon on April 27 for Pancreatic Cancer UK which is aiming to raise £2 million to develop a breath test which could catch the disease earlier and increase the chances of life-saving treatment.
To sponsor Tony visit: https://2025tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/tony-audenshaw.
