The brand was discontinued on April 27 “due to challenges in the continuity of supply across the UK”, the pharmaceutical company said in a statement.

The remaining supplies will be sold throughout the year, the manufacturer added.

Chiesi said that its decision to cease production of its branded verapamil hydrochloride is “regrettable”, but it will allow the company to focus on “newer, more viable alternatives”.

Vertab® is a calcium channel blocker that can be used to treat high blood pressure and angina.

“Chiesi remains committed to delivering better care and quality of life for people living with hypertension and angina. The cardiovascular therapeutic area continues to be a primary focus in Chiesi’s research and development pipeline, and the production and commercialisation of innovative medicines remains its priority,” the manufacturer added.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson told C+D today (June 9) that the government is aware of several suppliers of verapamil 240mg modified-release tablets.

“The government has well-established processes to deal with medicine shortages and discontinuations and we work closely with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, NHS England and NHS Improvement and others to ensure risks to prevent any shortages and minimise risks when they do arise,” they added.