French drug shortages reported

Between October 16 and 29, 2026, the French National Agency for Medicines Safety (ANSM) reported disruptions or updated availability data for several medications distributed through both the retail and hospital channels, with numerous supply chain tensions and stock shortages reported.

BETNEVAL 0.1% cream supply issues

BETNEVAL 0.1% cream (betamethasone valerate) experienced supply tension in retail, with no impact on hospital availability, quantitative restrictions in retail, and an expected return to availability by the end of October 2026.

DIAMOX 250 mg availability

DIAMOX 250 mg (acetazolamide) faced supply tension in retail, with no impact on hospital availability, quantitative restrictions in retail, limited emergency stock available in retail, and an expected return to availability by early December 2026.

ENANTONE LP 3.75 mg shortages

ENANTONE LP 3.75 mg (leuprolide) had supply tension in retail, with no impact on hospital availability, quantitative restrictions in retail, and an undetermined expected return to availability.

Fluoresceine FAURE eye drops

FLUORESCEINE FAURE 0.5% eye drops (sodium fluorescein) experienced tension in both retail and hospital channels, with an exceptional and temporary availability of Minims Fluorescein Sodium 2% eye drops initially intended for the Irish market reserved for private ophthalmologists, with an expected return to availability by the end of 2026.

Fluoxetine-based specialties

Fluoxetine-based specialties 20 mg (capsules and dispersible tablets) faced tension in both retail and hospital channels, with a return to availability expected at the laboratories by the end of November 2026.

HYDROCORTISONE SUBSTIPHARM

HYDROCORTISONE SUBSTIPHARM 100 mg (hydrocortisone hemisuccinate) had a definitive end of commercialization since June 30, 2026, as previously announced.

HYDROCORTISONE UPJOHN shortages

HYDROCORTISONE UPJOHN 100 mg (sodium hydrogénosuccinate) experienced tension in both retail and hospital channels, with quantitative restrictions in both, and an undetermined expected return to availability.

IKERVIS and VERKAZIA eye drops

IKERVIS 1 mg/mL eye drops (cyclosporine) and VERKAZIA 1 mg/mL eye drops (cyclosporine) both faced supply tension, with VERKAZIA's availability imminent rupture. IKERVIS was temporarily mobilized to meet the exclusive needs of children and adolescents, with an expected return to availability in early December 2026.

Cyclosporine eye drops for adults

Eye drops based on ciclosporine for adults remained available, with an expected return to availability in early January 2027.

KENACORT RETARD supply issues

KENACORT RETARD 40 mg/1 mL (triamcinolone acetonide) had persistent supply tension in retail, with no impact on hospital availability, quantitative restrictions in retail, and an expected return to availability in the third quarter of 2027.

KETOPROFENE PHARMY II

KETOPROFENE PHARMY II 100 mg/2 mL (ketoprofen) experienced tension in retail, with no impact on hospital availability, quantitative restrictions in retail, and an undetermined return to availability, despite a previous announcement for mid-December 2026.

MICROVAL shortages

MICROVAL (levonorgestrel) faced supply tension until the end of the year in both retail and hospital channels, with limited emergency stock available in hospital and an expected return to availability by the end of December 2026.

MYDRIATICUM eye drops

MYDRIATICUM 0.5% eye drops (tropicamide) and MYDRIATICUM 2 mg/0.4 mL eye drops (tropicamide) both experienced tension in retail, with no impact on hospital availability for the 0.5% formulation. For the 2 mg/0.4 mL formulation, quantitative restrictions were in place, with an exceptional and temporary availability of Minims Tropicamide 1% eye drops initially intended for the British market. For pharmacies, a qualitative restriction was implemented, reserving the 20 UD box for prescriptions where the indication was therapeutic mydriasis, excluding preoperative or diagnostic purposes. The expected return to availability for MYDRIATICUM was undetermined.

NIFEDIPINE VIATRIS LP

NIFEDIPINE VIATRIS LP 30 mg (nifedipine) had supply tension in retail, with quantitative restrictions in retail, limited emergency stock available in retail, and an expected return to availability beginning of December 2026.

PARLODEL shortages

PARLODEL 5 mg and 10 mg (bromocriptine mesilate) experienced new episodes of tension until September 2027, with quantitative restrictions in retail and an expected return to availability beginning of September 2027.

XEROQUEL 50 mg LP

XEROQUEL 50 mg LP tablet and generics (quetiapine) faced supply tension in retail, with quantitative restrictions in retail and a possibility of dispensing a magistral preparation (in immediate release capsules) as a replacement for quetiapine LP 50 mg without new prescription, in accordance with the ANSM recommendation. The LP 300 mg and LP 400 mg dosages were unaffected, with return to availability undetermined.

RIFAMYCINE CHIBRET

RIFAMYCINE CHIBRET 1,000,000 UI/100 g (sodium rifamycin) had announced tension until December 2026, with quantitative restrictions in retail and a normal return to availability expected in December 2026.

RIFINAH shortages

RIFINAH 300 mg/150 mg (rifampicin, isoniazid) experienced tension in retail, with quantitative restrictions in retail and an undetermined return to availability.

SECTRAL LP 500 mg

SECTRAL LP 500 mg (acébutolol) had an end of commercialization since April 4, 2025, after a stock shortage period.

SUNITINIB dosages

SUNITINIB BIOGARAN 37.5 mg and ZENTIVA 37.5 mg (sunitinib) faced possible delays on the 12.5 mg and 25 mg dosages, with an expected return to availability by the end of December 2026.

TARKA LP 240 mg/2 mg

TARKA LP 240 mg/2 mg (verapamil/trandolapril) had supply tension in retail, with quantitative restrictions in retail and an expected return to availability in February 2027.

VICTAN shortages

VICTAN 2 mg (ethyl lofazepate) had an effective stock shortage, with a return to availability expected in the first quarter of 2027.

VITAMINE A PROVEPHARM

VITAMINE A PROVEPHARM 100,000 UI/2 mL (retinol palmitate) had new episodes of tension in both retail and hospital channels, with return to availability undetermined.

WINREVAIR 45 mg and 60 mg

WINREVAIR 45 mg and 60 mg (sotatercept) had a return to availability of the 2 vial kits for the 45 mg dosage since October 20, 2026. The 60 mg 2 vial kits had tension in retail, with quantitative restrictions in retail, and return to availability undetermined. The 2 vial kits of 60 mg were temporarily made available exclusively via the direct sales channel MSD to preserve availability for patients whose weight required it.

XARELTO 1 mg/mL

XARELTO 1 mg/mL granules for oral suspension (rivaroxaban) had a stock shortage in both retail and hospital channels, with an expected return to availability in early November 2026 instead of end of October 2026, with the delay on the 100 mL bottle not recommended.

YELLOX eye drops

YELLOX 0.9 mg/mL eye drops (sodium bromfenac) had a stock shortage after a period of tension, with a return to availability maintained for November 16, 2026.

ORACILLINE and M-M-RVAXPRO return

The ANSM confirmed the return to availability of the following specialties: ORACILLINE 250,000 UI/5 mL oral suspension (benzathine phenoxymethylpenicillin) since October 15, 2026, and the M-M-RVAXPRO vaccine (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) since October 21, 2026.