NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service

• 11 November: Ophthalmology biosimilars, medicines governance opportunity, & New Medicines News

  Penny Daynes, Associate Regional Pharmacy procurement specialist at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 1st and 7th November.  To easily find a list of newly published pages go to sps.nhs.uk, select ‘search’, click in the search bar, and press enter.     Quick links to highlighted resources:    The licence and supporting evidence for ranibizumab biosimilars Four licensed ranibizumab biosimilars are available: Byooviz, Ongavia, Rimmyrah and Ximluci. Learn about the licensed indications and supporting evidence https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/the-licence-and-supporting-evidence-for-ranibizumab-biosimilar/ Preparing to use ranibizumab biosimilar Ranibizumab biosimilar needs planning. Ensure you are familiar with the area and then develop an implementation plan working with the multidisciplinary team https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/preparing-to-use-ranibizumab-biosimilar/ Restricted to NHS: The licence and supporting evidence for aflibercept biosimilars (log in required) Aflibercept 2mg biosimilars Afqlir, Eydenzelt, Yesafili and Vgenfli are expected in December 2025 for NHS use. Learn about supporting evidence and differences. https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/the-licence-and-supporting-evidence-for-aflibercept-biosimilars/ New Medicines News New Medicines News is produced by the SPS Horizon Scanning Service. It highlights recent new product launches and significant medicines regulatory changes. https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/new-medicines-news/ Medicines Governance Do Once (MGDO) programme opportunity Contact [email protected] for more information. Closing date for applications 30 November 2025. Next events Forthcoming webinars and conferences       https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/events/next-events/      Join our new WhatsApp channel to stay up to date with our latest news and updates https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBslvuJpe8aH3n7Zu1i Podcast description:     NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service serves healthcare professionals across the NHS who are involved in all aspects of buying, making and using medicines. Our motto is 'do once and share'.

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• 04 November: Account check, SMR explainer videos & Gene therapy guidance

  See Mun Wong, Digital and Quality Improvement Specialist, at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 25th and 31st October.  To easily find a list of newly published pages go to sps.nhs.uk, select ‘search’, click in the search bar, and press enter.     Quick links to highlighted resources:    Polypharmacy and Structured Medication Review Explainer Videos These animated videos explain the 7 steps of structured medication review, using a person-centred approach to managing polypharmacy https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/polypharmacy-and-structured-medication-review-explainer-videos/ Ex-Vivo and In-Vivo Non-GMO Gene Therapy Medicinal Products This document outlines key areas for focus of pharmacy expertise prior to an organisation implementing Ex-Vivo Non-Genetically Modified Organism Gene Therapies. https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/ex-vivo-non-gmo-gene-therapy-medicinal-products-pharmacy-institutional-readiness-guidance/ Prescribing Outlook Our annual medicines planning publication, Prescribing Outlook was updated on October 30th. Please note that Sacubitril-valsartan has been added to the patent expiries tab. To view the correction in the spreadsheet, pleas log in to the website https://www.sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Prescribing_Outlook_2025_amended_October_2025_v2.xlsx#:~:text=Prescribing_Outlook_2025_(amended_October_2025)_v2 New Spotlight Digest A digest of NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service support for professionals working in all areas of the healthcare system for October 2025. https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/spotlight-october-2025/ National PGD template updates Updated PGD templates for Doxycycline, oral Azithromycin in sexual health services, and Emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil for PrEP use. https://www.sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Azithromycin-chlamydia-National-PGD-template-V3.0.docx#:~:text=National%20PGD%20template%20updates https://www.sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Doxycycline-chlamydia-National-PGD-template-V3.0.docx#:~:text=National%20PGD%20template%20updates TD-FTC Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis PrEP National PGD template V3.0 · 85.93 KB Six intrathecal risk assessments have also been reviewed and updated, including those for Diamorphine, Etoposide, Methotrexate, gentamicin, rituximab and thiotepa. https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/thiotepa-informing-intrathecal-risk-assessment/#:~:text=%20six%20intrathecal%20risk%20assessments Etoposide: informing intrathecal risk assessment – SPS - Specialist Pharmacy Service – The first stop for professional medicines advice Rituximab: informing intrathecal risk assessment – SPS - Specialist Pharmacy Service – The first stop for professional medicines advice Methotrexate: informing intrathecal risk assessment – SPS - Specialist Pharmacy Service – The first stop for professional medicines advice Gentamicin: informing intrathecal risk assessment – SPS - Specialist Pharmacy Service – The first stop for professional medicines advice Diamorphine hydrochloride: informing intrathecal risk assessment – SPS - Specialist Pharmacy Service – The first stop for professional medicines advice Next events – forthcoming webinars and conferences       https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/events/next-events/      Join our new WhatsApp channel to stay up to date with our latest news and updates https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBslvuJpe8aH3n7Zu1i Podcast description:     NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service serves healthcare professionals across the NHS who are involved in all aspects of buying, making and using medicines. Our motto is 'do once and share'.

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• 28 October: GLP-1 receptor agonists, New Product Evaluations, & PGD template updates

  Dav Manku, Associate Regional Pharmacy Procurement Specialist, at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 18th and 24th October.  To easily find a list of newly published pages go to sps.nhs.uk, select ‘search’, click in the search bar, and press enter.     Quick links to highlighted resources:    Considerations and Interactions with GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Signposting key risks and interactions of GLP-1 receptor agonists in diabetes, obesity, and weight management. https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/considerations-and-interactions-with-glp-1-receptor-agonists/ New Product Evaluations – log in required A list of new product evaluations that are freely available to NHS staff. https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/new-product-evaluations/ National PGD template updates National PGD templates are developed with experts for clinical specialties. They reduce duplication and variation, and improve consistency of care. https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/guidance/patient-group-directions-and-legal-mechanisms/national-pgd-templates/ Next events – forthcoming webinars and conferences       https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/events/next-events/      Join our new WhatsApp channel to stay up to date with our latest news and updates https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBslvuJpe8aH3n7Zu1i Podcast description:     NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service serves healthcare professionals across the NHS who are involved in all aspects of buying, making and using medicines. Our motto is 'do once and share'.

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• 21 October: Prescribing Outlook, Golimumab Biosimilar, & CPC North

  Nicola Wake, Associate Director, Medicines Use and Safety at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between11th and 17th October.  To easily find a list of newly published pages go to sps.nhs.uk, select ‘search’, click in the search bar, and press enter.     Quick links to highlighted resources:    Prescribing Outlook This is our annual output to support managed entry and budget planning for new medicines, new indications and patent expiries in the NHS. https://www.sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Prescribing-Outlook-2025.xlsx#:~:text=Prescribing%20Outlook Golimumab biosimilar If you’re preparing to use golimumab biosimilar, we’ve added phase 2 and phase 3 checklists to our website. https://www.sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Golimumab-Biosimilar-Patient-Information-Sheet-version-2-FINAL-1.docx#:~:text=golimumab%20biosimilar PGD templates for trimethoprim and/or nitrofurantoin for UTI Version 2 of the templates have been published. They are valid from January 2026, but we publish them a few months in advance so organisations can take them through local governance processes in a timely manner. https://www.sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Nitrofurantoin-PGD-template-UTI-V2.0-1.docx#:~:text=PGD%20templates%20for%20trimethoprim%20and/or%20nitrofurantoin%20for%20UTI https://www.sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Trimethoprim-PGD-template-UTI-V2.0-1.docx#:~:text=PGD%20templates%20for%20trimethoprim%20and/or%20nitrofurantoin%20for%20UTI Next events – forthcoming webinars and conferences       https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/events/next-events/      Podcast description:     NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service serves healthcare professionals across the NHS who are involved in all aspects of buying, making and using medicines. Our motto is 'do once and share'.

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• 14 October: Pharmacy procurement induction pack, downloadable posters, & new SPS WhatsApp channel

  See Mun Wong, Digital and Quality Improvement Specialist at SPS, presents a summary of the resources published by SPS between 4th and 10th October.  To easily find a list of newly published pages go to sps.nhs.uk, select ‘search’, click in the search bar, and press enter.     Quick links to highlighted resources:    New SPS WhatsApp channel Follow us to stay up to date on via your phone https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBslvuJpe8aH3n7Zu1i New SPS resources posters to download and print A collection of posters designed by SPS for healthcare professionals to print and display in the workplace. https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/posters/ Inducting pharmacy procurement staff Complete our induction document to support all levels of new staff working within NHS hospital pharmacy procurement teams. https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/inducting-pharmacy-procurement-staff/ New Medicines News New Medicines News is produced by the SPS Horizon Scanning Service. It highlights recent new product launches and significant medicines regulatory changes. https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/new-medicines-news/ Medicines Advice contact page update https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/about-sps/get-in-touch/medicines-advice-contact-details/ Next events – forthcoming webinars and conferences       https://www.sps.nhs.uk/home/events/next-events/      Podcast description:     NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service serves healthcare professionals across the NHS who are involved in all aspects of buying, making and using medicines. Our motto is 'do once and share'.

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