Creon, a pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), plays a vital role in the daily lives of people living with chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, and pancreatic cancer. These patients rely on Creon to digest food properly, absorbing nutrients essential to maintain weight, energy, and quality of life especially when undergoing intensive treatments like chemotherapy.
But across the globe, supplies of Creon have become increasingly difficult to secure.
An ongoing, global shortage
Pancreatic Cancer UK and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust both point to a global supply chain disruption affecting the manufacturing of raw ingredients. Canada has begun supplying some emergency stock through import mechanisms, but these efforts are limited in scale. Meanwhile, alternative enzyme therapies such as Pancrex and Nutrizym are also under pressure, unable to fully meet patient needs.
More than 61,000 patients in the UK use PERT, and demand continues to rise. A 2024 National Pharmacy Association (NPA) survey found that 96% of UK pharmacies were struggling to obtain Creon, and 89% were facing challenges sourcing alternatives. With stock levels expected to remain low into 2026, concern is mounting.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged a “European-wide supply issue” and said the department is “working closely with industry and the NHS” to mitigate the impact. Countries such as South Africa have been reporting Creon shortages since 2023 resulting in unmanageable prices for local patients.
There are reports of people rationing their existing medication, skipping meals, or travelling long distances to find stock paint a troubling picture. Clinicians have warned of serious health consequences, including poor diabetes control, malnutrition, and reduced absorption of other medications.
Does the private sector offer a solution?
While the government is taking steps to manage the shortage by extending Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) and exploring alternatives there may also be a broader structural question worth considering: in an increasingly complex pharmaceutical supply landscape, is there scope for private providers to help build resilience?
Private clinics with in-house pharmacy capabilities, for example, could offer patients more consistent access to high-dependency medications through direct arrangements with licensed distributors like Alliance Healthcare, which from March 2025 will become the sole supplier of Creon in the UK.
Likewise, continuity-of-care models that include ongoing medication support which are already common in areas like oncology and multiple sclerosis could be adapted to support patients on long-term PERT therapy, helping ensure they don’t face gaps in supply during critical phases of treatment.
These are not silver bullets. But they reflect growing interest in more integrated, patient-centred care models that combine clinical oversight with secure, responsive medication delivery, especially in areas where supply shocks can have significant downstream impacts on health outcomes.
Looking ahead
As the shortage continues, national charities are calling for coordinated government action, including the establishment of a dedicated medicines shortages taskforce. But in the meantime, it may be worth asking: can a more flexible, mixed-model approach help ease pressure on overstretched public systems?
And for healthcare providers and investors, could this moment be a quiet signal, not only of risk, but of an opportunity to support continuity in ways that are both patient-focused and sustainable?