Maxwellia’s Lovima® contraceptive pill granted a licence by MHRA

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has granted medicines switch expert Maxwellia a pharmacy (P) licence for Lovima® (desogestrel 75mcg) - a daily progestogen-only pill, which will be available to buy from pharmacies without a prescription nationwide for the first time this summer.

This reclassification of the daily progestogen-only pill is one of the biggest advances in women’s health in the 60 years since the pill was first launched in the UK, putting more women even more in charge of their contraception, by widening access and positioning pharmacists as the leaders in self-care.

The reclassification request was spearheaded by Maxwellia, a pioneering British company and the world’s only dedicated “switching” specialist which converts prescription-only medicines into versions that can be bought in a pharmacy. Switching is a rigorous regulatory process enabling pharmacists to safely supply what were previously prescription-only medicines.

The decision is welcomed by Sibby Buckle FRPharmS, an Advanced Pharmacist Practitioner currently practicing in the east Midlands. She says: “The entry of a progestogen-only pill as a Pharmacy medicine is a significant step forward, enabling us to better meet the contraceptive needs of our customers. As more and more people embrace self-care, this licence change presents pharmacists with a great opportunity to offer a wider choice of contraception and take a more proactive role in advising and educating customers on the contraceptive choices available.”

Maxwellia, based in Alderley Park, Cheshire, is converting and developing a range of prescription-only medicines into the next-generation of consumer healthcare pharmacy brands which will treat a range of conditions in major public health categories, including women’s health.

The company, led by founder and CEO Anna Maxwell, who has spent more than 30 years working as a registered pharmacist and in the pharmaceutical industry says: 

 “This game-changing decision has allowed us to liberate this pill for thousands of women who can now choose to buy Lovima® from their local pharmacy without a prescription following a consultation with their pharmacist or continue to get it for free on the NHS. It is the first, but momentous, step on our journey in enabling pharmacists to broaden their front-line role. As a registered pharmacist I know that pharmacists can play an even greater role in helping people take more control of their own health, which is why we are 100% focused on our switch strategy. We are developing a portfolio of medicines that we know pharmacists are suited to advise on and sell. Just like Lovima®, every one of our new OTC brands will be supported by comprehensive training and education materials. Our vision is one of close collaboration with our pharmacy partners. We will do the heavy lifting to bring products to pharmacy and then with appropriate training and support we will put quality consumer health products in their hands to advise on and sell.”

Maxwellia has developed a suite of comprehensive pharmacy training and support materials to support the launch of Lovima®. They will be available to access through a dedicated HCP portal at. A consumer facing website is also available, providing important information on choosing the right form of contraception and seeking advice from a healthcare professional. There is also a checklist online for women to complete in advance of their visit to the pharmacy to help the consultation with the pharmacist. Maxwellia is dedicated to helping break down contraception access barriers faced by women by launching Lovima®into pharmacies and supporting greater sexual health education and awareness.

Half of all UK pregnancies are unplanned, placing a huge burden on the NHS costing around £240 million each year. Women spend 30 years of their lives on average trying to avoid an unplanned pregnancyii and more than a third are unable to access contraception servicesiii. The UK still has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Western Europe, with rates up to five times higher than some other countriesiv.

New research** commissioned by Lovima® has found that almost three quarters (70%) of women who have used contraception agree the contraceptive pill should be easier to get hold of and more widely available. The survey, which questioned 1,009 women in the UK aged 18-55, also found that nearly half (44%) would be willing to pay to get the contraception they need more quickly and easily.

Nearly half (48%) said they would be deterred from getting contraception because it’s difficult or too time consuming or because it’s inconvenient to get a GP or sexual health clinic appointment. This has been made more difficult by the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than one in three (35%) women who take contraception agreeing it’s taken longer than usual to get their prescription.

Welcoming the decision, Dr Anne Connolly, GP and Chair of the Primary Care Women’s Health Forum, says: “We have been lobbying for this licence change for many years and are pleased it has finally happened. Providing greater access to effective contraception is so important in today’s society. Pharmacists are more than qualified to help women make the decision about whether the progestogen only pill is the right form of contraception for them but have been a highly underutilised contraceptive service resource until now. Recognising the important role pharmacists should play in our primary care service provision has always been important but never more than now during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Royal Pharmaceutical Society Director of Pharmacy Robbie Turner says: “This move will increase access to an effective method of contraception and enable women to make an informed choice about their needs after discussion with a pharmacist. Pharmacies already play an important role in provision of contraception and are a convenient, expert source of help and advice.”

Dr Diana Mansour, a Vice-President of the FSRH and a Consultant in Community Gynaecology and Reproductive Health Care at New Croft Centre in Newcastle, says: “We welcome this decision – it’s a positive step for both women and healthcare professionals. The progestogen-only pill is an effective form of oral contraception trusted by millions of women. Close medical monitoring is not required with this pill and so it is perfectly acceptable to delegate this responsibility to qualified pharmacists, improving contraception access for those women who wish to pay for their progestogen-only pill and free up GP, community contraception and sexual health service appointments for more complex work.”