The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7459 p3
7 July 2007

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AstraZeneca delays direct-to-pharmacy distribution

AstraZeneca has delayed the introduction of its direct-to-pharmacy distribution model until the new year. The company's plans, involving AAH Pharmaceuticals and UniChem, were expected to come into place late in the summer (PJ, 28 April, p475).

According to AstraZeneca, extending the implementation phase will allow more time for customers to set up accounts and ensure that the new system will be robust and meet the needs of its customers.

An AstraZeneca spokeswoman told The Journal that the company had not pushed back its timescales to wait for the results of the Office of Fair Trading’s market study into UK medicines distribution. “We will need to consider the OFT’s recommendations at the time of publication, but this decision is not related,” she said.