HC Deb 18 March 1997 vol 292 cc586-7W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what public health reasons postponed the start of despatch of the "Dear Doctor" letters dated 18 October 1995; and if he will make a statement; [20139]

(2) if, prior to 13 October 1995, the Medicines Control Agency gave a written undertaking to Professor Hershel Jick and his colleagues that their unpublished data on the safety of oral contraceptives would be treated in confidence; [20151]

(3) if, at the meeting of the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products on 17–18 October 1995, the United Kingdom representatives informed the CPMP that the Committee on Safety of Medicines had met on 13 October 1995. [20152]

Mr. Malone

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 17 March 1997 column472.

Mr. Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the oral contraceptives which contain desogestrel or gestodene which currently have a product licence; and for each product if he will list the company which holds the product licence and the date on which the product licence was granted. [20140]

Mr. Malone

The following currently granted marketing authorisations for oral contraceptives contain desogestrel or gestodene.

Oral contraceptives containing desogestrel

  • Marvelon 150/30
  • Organon Laboratories Ltd.
  • Granted 4 November 1981
  • Marvelon 75/50
  • Organon Laboratories Ltd.
  • Granted 4 November 1981
  • Mercilon tablets
  • Organon Laboratories Ltd.
  • Granted 11 February 1986
  • Gracial 25/40
  • Organon Laboratories Ltd.
  • Granted 28 February 1996
  • Gracial 125/30
  • Organon Laboratories Ltd.
  • Granted 28 February 1996.

Oral contraceptives containing gestodene

  • Minulet tablets
  • John Wyeth and Brother Ltd.
  • Granted 27 August 1987
  • Tri-minulet tablets
  • John Wyeth and Brother Ltd.
  • Granted 20 February 1989
  • Minesse
  • John Wyeth and Brother Ltd.
  • Granted 17 March 1995
  • 587
  • Harmonette 23
  • John Wyeth and Brother Ltd.
  • Granted 28 June 1995
  • Femodene tablets
  • Schering Health Care Ltd.
  • Granted 22 July 1986.