Written question asked by Julie Morgan (Labour) on Friday, 19 February 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 23 February 2010. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Tuesday, 2 March 2010 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Pyrazinamide and Streptomycin

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there are plans to license (a) pyrazinamide and (b) streptomycin for use in the UK.

Answer: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granted a marketing authorisation, to Merck Sharp and Dohme, for a product containing pyrazinamide alone. It is indicated for the treatment of patients with active tuberculosis.However, the new owners of the product, Genus Pharmaceuticals Ltd., informed the MHRA in 2007 that they were not currently marketing this product in the United Kingdom.There are no pending applications for other products containing pyrazinamide alone indicated for treatment of patients with tuberculosis.The MHRA granted a marketing authorisation, to UCB Pharma Ltd., for a product containing streptomycin sulphate alone. This product is indicated for the treatment of patients with tuberculosis.This product is supplied on a named patient basis in the UK.There are no pending applications for other products containing streptomycin alone indicated for the treatment of patients with tuberculosis.

Secondary information