Europe – EMA update on shortages of antibiotics in the EU

EMA’s Executive Steering Group on Shortages and Safety of Medicinal Products (MSSG) met on Thursday to discuss the progress made and to agree on the next steps in the coordinated response to the ongoing shortages of antibiotic medicines containing amoxicillin (alone and in combination with clavulanic acid) in the EU. The MSSG is made up of representatives from EMA, the European Commission and the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA).

A recent surge in respiratory infections has driven an increase in demand for amoxicillin which combined with other issues including manufacturing delays and production capacity challenges led to shortages affecting the majority of Member States…