Riyad F Alzhrani, Marwan Alrasheed, Ibrahim Alzammam, Yazed Alruthia
{"title":"Sterile injectable products shortage in Saudi Arabia: a survey-based cross-sectional study.","authors":"Riyad F Alzhrani, Marwan Alrasheed, Ibrahim Alzammam, Yazed Alruthia","doi":"10.1007/s44446-025-00053-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44446-025-00053-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sterile Injectable Products (SIPs) represent a critical class of pharmaceuticals that frequently face shortages and ultimately compromise patient care. Disruptions within the pharmaceutical supply chain are significant factors contributing to these shortages. This study aimed to investigate the causes and impacts of SIPs shortages in Saudi Arabia, with the central hypothesis that pharmaceutical supply chain disruptions are the primary drivers of these shortages and that they negatively affect patient outcomes. A cross-sectional questionnaire was administered to two key stakeholder groups: supply chain management (SCM) personnel and healthcare professionals (HCPs). A total of 350 responses were collected and statistically analyzed. Our findings demonstrate a strong consensus among SCM respondents, with 73% agreeing that supply chain disruptions significantly affect SIPs availability. Poor demand forecasting and limited sourcing capabilities were identified as the primary contributing factors. From the perspective of HCPs, over 65% indicated that SIP shortages adversely impacted patient care, resulting in treatment delays, extended hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs. Additionally, many respondents reported that staff time is often wasted in the search for alternative therapies, which may also be of short supply. Interestingly, more than 70% of respondents from both groups expressed robust support for the adoption of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to enhance forecasting and inventory management. Taken together, these findings underscore the urgent need for integrated strategies including proactive forecasting, sustainable inventory management, expanded local manufacturing, and AI-driven tools to strengthen the resilience of the SIP supply chain in Saudi Arabia and beyond.</p>","PeriodicalId":49257,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal","volume":"33 6","pages":"53"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12728144/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145812062","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wael A Alanazi, Ali H Alenezi, Doaa M El-Nagar, Mohammed M Alanazi, Mohammed M Almutairi, Alaa A-M Abdel-Aziz, Adel S El-Azab
{"title":"Cyclic-imide derivative (5e) attenuates hyperglycemia in type 1 diabetic rats by protecting pancreatic cells and enhancing insulin secretion.","authors":"Wael A Alanazi, Ali H Alenezi, Doaa M El-Nagar, Mohammed M Alanazi, Mohammed M Almutairi, Alaa A-M Abdel-Aziz, Adel S El-Azab","doi":"10.1007/s44446-025-00057-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44446-025-00057-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Diabetes is a major cause of cardiovascular complications, accounting for nearly 70% of diabetes-related deaths. In a previous study, several novel cyclic-imide compounds were evaluated as hypoglycemic agents, and one compound, 5e, showed promising effects in controlling blood glucose in a type 1 diabetes (T1D) rat model. The purpose of this investigation was to clarify the processes by which 5e reduces hyperglycemia through tolerance tests, metabolic hormone assessment, and evaluation of anti-apoptotic effects on pancreatic tissue. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats allocated to five categories: control, diabetic, diabetic administered glibenclamide (10 mg/kg), and diabetic treated with 5e at two doses (10 and 15 mg/kg). Over two weeks, blood glucose and tolerance tests were performed, and on day 15, blood and pancreatic tissues were collected for analysis of insulin, glucagon, lipase, and amylase, along with histological evaluation. Both 5e and glibenclamide reduced blood glucose by approximately 36%, while the higher dose of 5e lowered glycemia by 50%. All treated groups showed improved glycemic control in tolerance tests, with the 15 mg/kg 5e group demonstrating the greatest glucose clearance and insulin sensitivity. Compound 5e modulated insulin, glucagon, and lipase levels, indicating metabolic improvement, with the strongest effects at the higher dose. Histological analysis revealed enhanced islet morphology and significantly reduced pancreatic apoptosis, particularly in the higher dose 5e group. These findings suggest that 5e improves glycemic control and exerts protective effects on pancreatic structure and function in T1D rats, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent and warranting further pharmacological investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":49257,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal","volume":"33 6","pages":"52"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12715086/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145776180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
David Banji, Saeed Alshahrani, Moaddey Alfarhan, Otilia J F Banji
{"title":"Revolutionizing type 2 diabetes management: the role of the pharmacist in unlocking the potential of tirzepatide.","authors":"David Banji, Saeed Alshahrani, Moaddey Alfarhan, Otilia J F Banji","doi":"10.1007/s44446-025-00050-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44446-025-00050-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) affects over 460 million people worldwide and profoundly diminishes their quality of life. Its onset is driven by obesity, sedentary behavior, and genetic predisposition, leading to insulin resistance, progressive beta-cell dysfunction, and complications such as cardiovascular disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Effective management requires therapies that extend beyond glycemic control to address these interconnected risks. Tirzepatide, a dual agonist of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors, has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in clinical studies, particularly the SURPASS trials. It achieved a reduction in HbA1c of up to 2.3% and body weight losses exceeding 22% over 72 weeks. Additional benefits include improvement in blood pressure, lipid levels, and inflammatory markers, with potential benefit in NAFLD. Pharmacists play a vital role in translating these benefits into practice by counselling patients on safe use, managing adverse effects, and supporting adherence. Their involvement bridges the gap between trial evidence and real-world outcomes. This review examines the dual mechanism of tirzepatide, its broader metabolic effects, and the critical role of pharmacists in optimizing its use. With pharmacist-led care, tirzepatide has the potential to transform diabetes management across diverse populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":49257,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal","volume":"33 6","pages":"51"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12712260/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145769713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Deciphering the pharmacological mechanisms of salidroside in cervical cancer by combining network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro studies.","authors":"Jianmin Wang, Guanghui Song, Liaqat Hussain, Lili Xing","doi":"10.1007/s44446-025-00052-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44446-025-00052-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cervical cancer is one of the major and serious risks to women. Salidroside, a natural compound, shows promise in treating cervical cancer. However, its specific molecular mechanisms remain unclear and require further investigation. This study aimed to elucidate the pharmacological activity of salidroside and its underlying molecular mechanisms in cervical cancer, employing network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental approaches. Genes associated with cervical cancer were gathered from The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, and network pharmacology. Furthermore, we integrated the drug targets with the disease targets pertinent to cervical cancer, subsequently conducting analyses utilizing the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) to explain the pharmacological pathways through which salidroside operates in the milieu of cervical cancer. Survival analysis was performed to screen the core therapeutic targets of salidroside. Salidroside constituents and hub genes binding affinity were assessed by molecular docking studies. In vitro experiments, including Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, flow cytometry, and western blotting, were performed to further validate the computational findings. Study findings revealed that salidroside inhibited the cervical cancer cell progression, reduced viability, and induced apoptosis.Ten target genes related to salidroside's anti-cancer effects have been identified. Survival analysis revealed that MMP1 and MMP3 exhibited the highest binding capability among all the target genes. Molecular docking indicated that the salidroside's active entities showed a strong binding tendency with the MMP1 and MMP3 genes. Western blot analysis revealed that it significantly reduced the expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3. In Vitro studies suggested that suppressing MMP1 and MMP3 genes might be responsible for salidroside's anticancer effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":49257,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal","volume":"33 6","pages":"49"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12705929/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145758132","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Molham Sakkal, Ranim W A Abdelmoteleb, Aya Al Ali, Yousef A Bin Jardan, Raimar Löbenberg, Muhammad Sarfraz
{"title":"Inhalable nanoparticle-based drug delivery system for non-small cell lung cancer therapy: promises and challenges.","authors":"Molham Sakkal, Ranim W A Abdelmoteleb, Aya Al Ali, Yousef A Bin Jardan, Raimar Löbenberg, Muhammad Sarfraz","doi":"10.1007/s44446-025-00046-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44446-025-00046-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for approximately 85% of cases. Conventional therapies, including surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted treatments, often show limited efficacy, especially in advanced stages. Pulmonary drug delivery systems (PDDSs) have gained attention as an innovative approach for NSCLC management by enabling direct drug administration to the lungs. This method improves therapeutic outcomes while minimizing systemic side effects. Advances in nanotechnology have further enhanced the potential of inhalable chemotherapy, with nanoparticles offering notable benefits such as improved drug solubility, stability, and protection from premature degradation. Additionally, their small size and modifiable surfaces allow for targeted delivery to tumor cells, increasing treatment efficacy and reducing harm to healthy tissues. This review outlines the formulations used in PDDSs for NSCLC, evaluates suitable inhalation devices, and examines the physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles critical for pulmonary delivery. It also discusses both passive and active targeting mechanisms and explores current challenges in inhalable nanomedicine. Emphasis is placed on recent innovations in inhalable nanomaterials, providing a comprehensive and current perspective on their application in NSCLC therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":49257,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal","volume":"33 6","pages":"50"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12705525/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145758137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Suhail Khalaf, Noura M Alshiban, Nada F Alosaimi, Ali A Alamer, Alhassan H Aodah, Haya A Alfassam, Abdullah A Alshehri, Fahad A Almughem, Meshal K Alnefaie, Rawan A Fitaihi, Aws Alshamsan, Essam A Tawfik
{"title":"Coaxial electrospun fibers for control release of vancomycin and diclofenac in osteomyelitis management.","authors":"Suhail Khalaf, Noura M Alshiban, Nada F Alosaimi, Ali A Alamer, Alhassan H Aodah, Haya A Alfassam, Abdullah A Alshehri, Fahad A Almughem, Meshal K Alnefaie, Rawan A Fitaihi, Aws Alshamsan, Essam A Tawfik","doi":"10.1007/s44446-025-00048-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44446-025-00048-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Osteomyelitis (OM) is a serious bacterial bone infection and can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. A promising approach to manage OM involves using drug-loaded fibrous implants or scaffolds containing antibiotics, analgesics, or anti-osteoporosis medications to combat infection, reduce pain and promote bone healing, respectively. In this study, a coaxial electrospinning technology was employed to fabricate drug-loaded fibers encapsulating vancomycin hydrochloride (VAN), an antibiotic, and diclofenac sodium (DIC), an analgesic to prevent infection and alleviate post-surgical pain. The fibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) which indicated that the drug-loaded (DL) coaxial fibers had smooth surfaces and lacked beads and pores. The drug loading of the DL coaxial fibers was estimated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the results were calculated as 75 ± 4 µg/mL for VAN and 82 ± 3 µg/mL for DIC. The drug release was also measured by HPLC, which showed a rapid initial release, i.e., 59% for VAN and 75% for DIC within the first day, followed by a sustained slow release reaching approximately 92% and 79%, respectively after 264 h. The antimicrobial assay zone of inhibition confirmed the antibacterial activity of the DL fibers against Staphylococcus aureus. The cell viability assessments on the drugs alone against human dermal fibroblasts (HFF-1) demonstrated that the VAN and DIC combination is safe at concentrations up to 250 µg/mL but required careful dosing due to time-dependent cytotoxicity. Overall, the study highlights the potential use of VAN and DIC-loaded coaxial electrospun fibers as a localized drug delivery system for OM treatment, offering controlled drug release, effective antibacterial action, and biocompatibility.</p>","PeriodicalId":49257,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal","volume":"33 6","pages":"48"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12673007/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145656143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ali M Alghazal, Tamer M Shehata, Bandar Alduhbiab, Heba S Elsewedy
{"title":"Relevance of topical application of minoxidil laden nano-lipid for hair growth enhancement.","authors":"Ali M Alghazal, Tamer M Shehata, Bandar Alduhbiab, Heba S Elsewedy","doi":"10.1007/s44446-025-00051-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44446-025-00051-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Practically, all patients treated with Minoxidil (MXD) reported experiencing hypertrichosis, even though the original intended usage of the drug was the treatment of hypertension. This limitation supports the potential of repurposing MXD as a topical agent for the treatment of hair loss. Accordingly, the outset of the current study was to exploit the cutaneous influence of MXD and limit the drawbacks of conventional available dosage forms. This could be achieved via developing a nanocarrier, mainly; nanoemulsion (NE) for transdermal delivery of MXD. Therefore, several NEs were prepared containing MXD and optimized according to their particle size and in vitro release study using Response Surface Methodology. The optimized formulation was examined for its organoleptic properties, pH, viscosity, and drug content. Moreover, Morphology, kinetic study was investigated a long with the stability testing upon keeping in two distinct settings: room temperature and refrigerator for 12 months. Eventually, the in vivo hair growth rate was monitored and documented for 28 days in pretreated mice. The developed MXD-NEs were developed and optimized using Box Behnken Design software to obtain the most desired formula. The optimized MXD-NE demonstrated a nanosize (83.1 nm) and performs a successful in vitro release (75.6%) over a period of 6 h. Additionally, it showed ideal physical properties with pH (5.9), viscosity (26.7 cP), and drug content (99.4%). The droplets in the formula seemed to be spherical. The formula was stable when preserved for 12 months at both applied conditions. Finally, the formula demonstrated significant faster rate of hair growth that mostly owed to the value of nanocarrier in delivering drug into follicular hairs.</p>","PeriodicalId":49257,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal","volume":"33 6","pages":"47"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12669459/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145649901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Molecular mechanisms attributed to colistin renal proximal tubular epithelial cytotoxicity.","authors":"Mohamed A Mahmoud, Metab Alharbi","doi":"10.1007/s44446-025-00049-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44446-025-00049-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Colistin is an antibiotic that belongs to the polymyxin family. It has reemerged as a treatment of last resort against multi-drug resistant gram-negative bacterial infections. Nephrotoxicity remains the most daunting and limiting adverse effect of colistin therapy leading to treatment discontinuation and mortality in high-risk patients. Nephrotoxicity occurs secondary to the accumulation of colistin in the renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (RPTECs). Mechanistically, colistin exerts endoplasmic reticulum and ribotoxic stress, induces mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in the RPTECs leading to apoptosis and necrosis. Moreover, colistin activates the mitogen-activated protein kinases and perturbs the balance between survival-promoting and death-promoting growth factors. In this review we have presented and integrated the major in vitro and in vivo mechanistic studies undertaken to study colistin-induced nephrotoxicity. In addition, we have suggested a possible unifying mechanism for colistin renal toxicity based on the emerging concept of the cross-organelle stress response.</p>","PeriodicalId":49257,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal","volume":"33 6","pages":"45"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12644391/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145589751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fatimah G Albani, Sahar S Alghamdi, Sabine Matou-Nasri, Arwa Alsubait, Rasha Suliman, Rehab AlRoshody, Sarah M Huwaizi, Tlili Barhoumi, Afrah E Mohammed, Mohamed Boudjelal, Entissar S Alsuhaibani, Zeyad Alehaideb
{"title":"Targeting triple-negative breast cancer: apoptotic and antitumor effects of Artemisia sieberi Besser extracts.","authors":"Fatimah G Albani, Sahar S Alghamdi, Sabine Matou-Nasri, Arwa Alsubait, Rasha Suliman, Rehab AlRoshody, Sarah M Huwaizi, Tlili Barhoumi, Afrah E Mohammed, Mohamed Boudjelal, Entissar S Alsuhaibani, Zeyad Alehaideb","doi":"10.1007/s44446-025-00047-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44446-025-00047-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Artemisia sieberi Besser (A. sieberi) has shown promise as a natural source of safe cytotoxic agents for breast cancer therapy. However, its effects on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a very aggressive subtype lacking targeted treatments, remain poorly studied. This study evaluates the anticancer activity of A. sieberi extracts against the MDA-MB-231 TNBC cell line, comparing results with hormone receptor-positive MCF-7 cells. Aerial parts of A. sieberi were extracted using ethanol and methanol and then chemically characterized via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to identify bioactive compounds. Cytotoxic effects were assessed using cell viability assays, while apoptosis induction was examined through flow cytometry (Annexin V/propidium iodide staining), caspase-3/-7 activation assays, and mitochondrial membrane permeabilization visualized using confocal microscopy. Western blotting analyzed the expression levels of apoptotic proteins. In silico molecular docking simulations explored the interactions between phytochemicals and apoptosis-regulating proteins. A. sieberi extracts exhibited higher cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 cells than against MCF-7 cells, with lower IC<sub>50</sub> values. Treatment of TNBC cells induced apoptosis, evidenced by increased caspase activity, mitochondrial membrane permeabilization, elevated Bax, and decreased Bcl-2 expression. Additionally, colony formation assays demonstrated a significant reduction in tumorigenic potential. Computational analyses indicate that β-sitosterol and stigmasterol, among the main compounds, exhibited strong interactions with apoptosis regulators by docking with Bcl-2, supporting their promising anticancer potential. A. sieberi extracts induce potent apoptosis and exert anti-tumour effects in TNBC cells, highlighting their potential as sources of novel anticancer agents. Further isolation and characterization of active constituents are warranted for therapeutic development.</p>","PeriodicalId":49257,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal","volume":"33 6","pages":"46"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12644357/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145589702","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abdulmalik Alyousef, Mohammed Al Masoud, Mohammed Alturki, Faiyaz Shakeel, Sultan Alshehri
{"title":"Impact of coverage of drug availability regulations across the supply chain cycle in Saudi Arabia.","authors":"Abdulmalik Alyousef, Mohammed Al Masoud, Mohammed Alturki, Faiyaz Shakeel, Sultan Alshehri","doi":"10.1007/s44446-025-00045-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44446-025-00045-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>There is a need for assessing the impact of current drug availability regulations across the various stages of the pharmaceutical supply chain and among different stakeholders involved. This mixed methods survey assessed the impact of pharmaceutical availability regulations across the drug supply chain in Saudi Arabia. This research utilized a cross-sectional study design involving a survey conducted at a single point in time to collect data from key stakeholders across the various stages of the pharmaceutical supply chain. Various metrics, such as availability ratings, accessibility issues, and stakeholder perspectives on regulatory effectiveness were examined. Mixed methods analysis combined survey statistics with qualitative insights. The data source for this study comprised an online survey targeting key stakeholders involved along the pharmaceutical supply chain (n = 27), including drug manufacturers (n = 10), distributors (n = 4), and healthcare settings, such as hospitals (n = 9) and pharmacies (n = 4). The data were collected in September 2023. Manufacturers (mean availability rating of 3.8) and distributors (mean availability rating of 3.5) viewed regulations to be more effective versus hospital/pharmacies (mean availability rating of 3.3) citing lack of harmonization and transparency as key efficiency deterrents. Centralized inventory monitoring and unified availability benchmarks were strongly advocated as enhancements alongside improved communication flows. Ultimately, a collaborative, yet guided approach is imperative for balancing industrial priorities and access imperatives to attain synchrony across the pharmaceutical value chain in order to augment both health and economic outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":49257,"journal":{"name":"Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal","volume":"33 6","pages":"44"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12623592/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145543449","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}