Medicine Shortage in Pharma Nation
- Switzerland has recently experienced a notable shortage of Temesta, a widely used anxiolytic medication prescribed for sleep disorders and severe anxiety.
- The scarcity of Temesta has created considerable challenges for patients, doctors, and pharmacists alike.
- Swiss law permits the import of medications that are unavailable within the country. Consequently, many individuals with a Swiss prescription sought supplies of
Temesta Shortage in Switzerland: Causes, Consequences, and Alternatives
Table of Contents
- Temesta Shortage in Switzerland: Causes, Consequences, and Alternatives
- La Crisi dei Farmaci Essenziali in Svizzera: Un’Analisi Approfondita
- Switzerland’s Pharmaceutical Supply Challenges: A Closer Look
- Big Pharma Faces Headwinds: Layoff Rounds Skyrocket in 2024
- Temesta Shortage in Switzerland: Causes, Consequences, and Alternatives
Switzerland has recently experienced a notable shortage of Temesta, a widely used anxiolytic medication prescribed for sleep disorders and severe anxiety. Within weeks, the drug virtually disappeared from Swiss pharmacy shelves. The reason? Pfizer, the American manufacturer of Temesta, drastically reduced supplies to Switzerland due to unspecified “problems in the production chain.”
Impact of the Drug Shortage
The scarcity of Temesta has created considerable challenges for patients, doctors, and pharmacists alike. Healthcare professionals are struggling to manage the situation, often without viable alternatives. Dr. Roberto Di Stefano, medical director of nursing homes under LIS (Lugano istituti Sociali), noted that some patients have tried other anxiolytics, such as Seresta. While many elderly patients tolerated Seresta well, some experienced increased daytime sleepiness, and in rare cases, delirium.
Cross-Border Solutions and Generic Alternatives
Swiss law permits the import of medications that are unavailable within the country. Consequently, many individuals with a Swiss prescription sought supplies of Tavor, the Italian equivalent of Temesta, from pharmacies across the border. Virna Vasques, director of the Sant’Agata pharmacy in Ponte Chiasso, confirmed that for over a year, approximately ten Swiss customers visited her pharmacy daily to obtain Tavor or one of the eleven generic versions available in Italy. Notably, until early 2025, Switzerland had no generic alternatives.
Lorazepam Bottles”>Compounding Pharmacies Step In
To mitigate the shortage, Swiss pharmacies turned to galenic laboratories, which prepare medications manually. The Golaz laboratory in Lausanne, led by technical manager Marco anastasi, produced and supplied over 15,000 packages of Lorazepam to pharmacies across switzerland in just a few months. While this solution proved helpful, it came at a cost. A package of 50 capsules is priced at approximately 60 francs,four times the price of the original drug.
Quotes from Key Figures
Dr. Roberto Di Stefano explained the challenges of finding alternatives, noting that while some patients tolerated Seresta well, “in alcuni ha causato maggior sonnolenza durante il giorno, in casi rari ha indotto dei deliri.”
Virna Vasques confirmed the influx of Swiss customers seeking alternatives, stating that, “per oltre un anno, almeno una decina di clienti svizzeri si è presentata ogni giorno in farmacia in cerca del Tavor o di uno degli 11 generici disponibili in Italia.”
Marco Anastasi highlighted the impact of galenic production, explaining that his lab “ha fabbricato e rifornito le farmacie di mezza Svizzera con oltre 15’000 confezioni di Lorazepam in pochi mesi.”
Conclusion
The Temesta shortage in Switzerland underscores the vulnerabilities in global pharmaceutical supply chains. While cross-border access and local compounding efforts have provided temporary relief,the situation highlights the need for more robust and diversified pharmaceutical sourcing strategies to ensure consistent access to essential medications.
La Crisi dei Farmaci Essenziali in Svizzera: Un’Analisi Approfondita
La Svizzera si trova ad affrontare una crescente difficoltà: la carenza di farmaci essenziali. Questa problematica mette a rischio la salute pubblica e solleva interrogativi sul futuro dell’industria farmaceutica elvetica. La produzione di farmaci meno costosi è diventata sempre meno attraente per le aziende farmaceutiche svizzere, che preferiscono concentrarsi su farmaci innovativi e più redditizi.
le Ragioni della Carenza
Il problema principale risiede nel prezzo dei farmaci più economici. I margini di guadagno sono talmente ridotti e il mercato interno così piccolo che le aziende farmaceutiche svizzere hanno poco interesse a produrli e commercializzarli nel proprio paese. Questa situazione ha portato a una progressiva diminuzione della produzione locale, con conseguenti difficoltà nell’approvvigionamento di farmaci essenziali.
Un Piano per Evitare nuove Crisi
Per affrontare questa situazione critica, farmacisti, medici e distributori stanno promuovendo un’iniziativa popolare. L’obiettivo è garantire che la Svizzera non si trovi più senza farmaci essenziali. Tra le misure proposte, spiccano:
- Incentivi per la produzione locale
- Regole più semplici per importare farmaci in caso di emergenza
- un maggiore controllo sui prezzi
La Produzione di generici a Bellinzona
Nonostante le difficoltà, c’è una nota positiva che arriva da Bellinzona. La Lagap, in collaborazione con Axapharm, ha avviato la produzione di due generici del Temesta: il Lorazepam Axapharm e il Sedazin. Questi farmaci sono disponibili sul mercato dall’inizio del 2025.
Tuttavia, per ogni confezione venduta a 11,65 franchi, la Lagap ne riceve solo 2,23. Questo basso ricavo potrebbe rendere la soluzione insostenibile a lungo termine, qualora le condizioni dovessero cambiare.
Una situazione brutta da anni
Giovan Maria Zanini, Farmacista cantonale Ticino
Il farmacista cantonale ticinese Giovan Maria Zanini ha confermato che i medicinali che si usano da decenni mancano perché costano troppo poco. “La situazione è brutta e lo è da anni. Temo che resterà così ancora per un po’”, ha affermato Zanini. “Non c’è alcun paradosso. Quando si parla di prezzo dei medicinali, bisogna fare due gruppi. È una cosa che troppi politici fanno finta di non sapere o di dimenticare”.
Zanini ha poi aggiunto: “abbiamo i medicamenti moderni, quelli innovativi, che sono fabbricati in Svizzera e in Europa, costano centinaia di migliaia di franchi. Sono medicinali che incidono molto sulle casse malati e ce n’è a volontà, basta pagarli. Il prezzo di questi farmaci è spesso assurdo, ingiustificato a volte”. Dall’altra ci sono invece i medicinali sul mercato da tempo, come il Temesta, appunto. “Questi hanno subito delle diminuzioni di prezzo. Nel 2000 si è introdotto il principio per il quale i farmaci devono essere allineati con il prezzo europeo.La verifica viene ripetuta ogni tre anni, sempre al ribasso”.
Switzerland’s Pharmaceutical Supply Challenges: A Closer Look
The Impact of Currency Fluctuations on Drug Prices
Switzerland faces unique challenges in maintaining a stable supply of medications. One significant factor is the fluctuating exchange rate between the Euro and the Swiss Franc. Over the past two decades,the Euro has weakened considerably against the Franc.
This shift has led to a situation where, “vent’anni fa per comprare un euro ci voleva 1.60 mentre ora bastano 95 centesimi,” making the Swiss market less attractive for some pharmaceutical companies.
Giovan Maria Zanini on Pharmaceutical Pricing Pressures
According to Giovan Maria Zanini, a cantonal pharmacist in Ticino, repeated price revisions have created an environment where “i prezzi di molti preparati sono scesi fino a non essere più interessanti per il business delle case farmaceutiche.” This decline in profitability can impact the availability of certain medications within the country.
Government Strategies to Address Drug Shortages
The swiss government is actively working to mitigate potential drug shortages. A new strategy from bern aims to ensure a consistent supply of essential medications.
For more data, see the SEIDISERA report from August 22, 2024, which discusses “Penuria di farmaci: nuova strategia di Berna.”
Big Pharma Faces Headwinds: Layoff Rounds Skyrocket in 2024
Published: 2025-03-06
Biopharma Industry Grapples with Increased Layoffs
The biopharmaceutical industry experienced a tumultuous year in 2024, marked by a significant increase in layoff rounds. While the overall number of biopharma layoffs saw only a slight increase compared to the previous year, the frequency of layoff events surged dramatically.
Specifically, the number of layoff rounds across Big Pharma skyrocketed by 281%.This stark increase signals deeper challenges within the industry,prompting companies to restructure and streamline their operations.
Key Layoff Statistics from 2024
In 2024, the biopharma sector witnessed a notable uptick in restructuring activities, primarily driven by evolving market dynamics and internal strategic realignments. The data reveals a nuanced picture of the industry’s response to these pressures.
- Total layoff rounds reported: 192
- Percentage increase in layoff rounds compared to 2023: 3% (187 rounds in 2023)
- Increase in layoff rounds across Big Pharma: 281%
These figures underscore a challenging period for biopharma employees, as companies navigate a shifting landscape.
Athira Pharma Announces Significant Workforce Reduction
adding to the wave
Temesta Shortage in Switzerland: Causes, Consequences, and Alternatives
Published: 2025-03-06
Switzerland has recently experienced a notable shortage of Temesta, a widely used anxiolytic medication prescribed for sleep disorders and severe anxiety. Within weeks, the drug virtually disappeared from swiss pharmacy shelves.The reason? Pfizer, the American manufacturer of Temesta, drastically reduced supplies too Switzerland due to unspecified “problems in the production chain.”
Impact of the Drug Shortage
The scarcity of Temesta has created considerable challenges for patients, doctors, and pharmacists alike. Healthcare professionals are struggling to manage the situation, frequently enough without viable alternatives. Dr. Roberto Di Stefano, medical director of nursing homes under LIS (Lugano istituti Sociali), noted that some patients have tried other anxiolytics, such as Seresta. While many elderly patients tolerated Seresta well, some experienced increased daytime sleepiness, and in rare cases, delirium.
Cross-Border Solutions and Generic Alternatives
Swiss law permits the import of medications that are unavailable within the country. Consequently, many individuals with a Swiss prescription sought supplies of Tavor, the Italian equivalent of Temesta, from pharmacies across the border. Virna Vasques, director of the Sant’Agata pharmacy in Ponte chiasso, confirmed that for over a year, approximately ten Swiss customers visited her pharmacy daily to obtain Tavor or one of the eleven generic versions available in Italy. Notably, until early 2025, Switzerland had no generic alternatives.
Compounding pharmacies Step In
To mitigate the shortage, Swiss pharmacies turned to galenic laboratories, which prepare medications manually. The Golaz laboratory in Lausanne,led by technical manager Marco anastasi,produced and supplied over 15,000 packages of Lorazepam to pharmacies across Switzerland in just a few months. While this solution proved helpful, it came at a cost. A package of 50 capsules is priced at approximately 60 francs, four times the price of the original drug.
Quotes from Key Figures
Dr. Roberto Di Stefano explained the challenges of finding alternatives, noting that while some patients tolerated Seresta well, “in alcuni ha causato maggior sonnolenza durante il giorno, in casi rari ha indotto dei deliri.”
Virna Vasques confirmed the influx of Swiss customers seeking alternatives, stating that, “per oltre un anno, almeno una decina di clienti svizzeri si è presentata ogni giorno in farmacia in cerca del Tavor o di uno degli 11 generici disponibili in Italia.”
Marco Anastasi highlighted the impact of galenic production, explaining that his lab “ha fabbricato e rifornito le farmacie di mezza Svizzera con oltre 15’000 confezioni di Lorazepam in pochi mesi.”
Conclusion
The temesta shortage in Switzerland underscores the vulnerabilities in global pharmaceutical supply chains. While cross-border access and local compounding efforts have provided temporary relief, the situation highlights the need for more robust and diversified pharmaceutical sour
Possible Solutions to Prevent Medication Shortages like Temesta in Switzerland
- Diversification of Supply Chains: Switzerland coudl actively diversify its pharmaceutical suppliers to reduce reliance on single manufacturers or regions.This would involve identifying and fostering relationships with multiple reliable suppliers from different geographic areas.
- Strategic Stockpiling: Develop a strategic reserve of essential medications, including Temesta (Lorazepam), to buffer against unexpected supply disruptions. This reserve should be managed to ensure proper storage and timely replenishment.
- Early Warning System: Implement a robust early warning system based on the principles of AI, the system using all available facts on the public internet including news resources, blogs, articles on research data and social medial to promptly communicate a shortage of drugs.
- Support for Local Manufacturing: Incentivize and support the advancement of local pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities. This would enhance Switzerland’s self-sufficiency in producing essential medications and create opportunities for domestic companies to address shortages more quickly.
- Enhanced Dialog & Openness: Establish clear communication channels between manufacturers, regulatory agencies, healthcare providers, and patients to improve transparency regarding potential supply issues.This would enable healthcare providers to make informed decisions and patients to adjust their treatment plans proactively.
- Expedited Regulatory Processes: Streamline regulatory approval processes for generic alternatives to Temesta and other essential medications to expedite their entry into the market. This would increase competition and reduce the impact of shortages on patients.