Swedish estrogen patches sit idle in warehouses due to strict marketing rules

Swedish pharmacies have faced a persistent shortage of estrogen patches, yet thousands of licensed units are sitting in warehouses. The cause is a tangled set of marketing regulations that bar drug makers from notifying prescribers about existing stock unless it does not encourage use. AtrimusRx, which holds several thousand patches eligible for special licensure prescriptions, is unable to advertise their availability.

Tina Crafoord, director at Läkemedelsverket, described the situation as a dilemma and said the agency is consulting the industry to refine the rules. A report to the government is expected by the end of October, though full resolution remains uncertain. In the meantime, the shortage of patches is likely to continue, while other estrogen forms such as gels, tablets and sprays are more readily obtainable.