Royal Pharmaceutical Society acquires Palliativedrugs.com

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) is pleased to announce the acquisition of Palliativedrugs.com, the publisher of the Palliative Care Formulary and Introducing Palliative Care, key resources for health professionals delivering care to patients at the end of life. This acquisition sees these well respected and market leading resources joining the stable of world-renowned drug information resources provided by Pharmaceutical Press, the publishing arm of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

Palliativedrugs.com Ltd was founded in 2000 by Robert Twycross and Andrew Wilcock to promote and disseminate information about the use of drugs in palliative care. Palliativedrugs.com Ltd has pioneered the building of an online community focused on palliative care and facilitated the sharing of essential information on the use of drugs in palliative and hospice care. The Palliative Care Formulary, first published in 1998, has established an international reputation and is available in online and book form as a key formulary resource. It has become the go-to resource for clinicians prescribing for patients with progressive end-stage diseases.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is engaged with members and stakeholders on the role of pharmacy in palliative and end of life care and this acquisition is a natural extension of our work in this area.  As publisher of BNF (The British National Formulary), the formulary services of Palliativedrugs.com Ltd are complementary and represent a significant addition to the portfolio of Pharmaceutical Press.

Andrew Wilcock, Director of Palliativedrugs.com Ltd:

“This presents an exciting opportunity, as not only does it secure the continuation of the Palliative Care Formulary (PCF) over the years to come, but we should see it continue to grow from strength to strength as a firmly established resource both within the UK and beyond. Similarly, for Introducing Palliative Care (IPC), it will help to increase its overall exposure.”

The new palliative collection becomes part of a gold standard portfolio, alongside market leading content such as the BNF, Martindale and Stockley’s Drug Interactions. Existing subscribers to the Online Palliative Care Formulary may expect a continuation of the same reliable and trustworthy content they have always accessed, supporting them to make the best clinical decisions.

Alina Lourie, Managing Director, Pharmaceutical Press:

“Our aim is to be at the forefront of delivering the most practical and reliable drug information. Palliative care is a growing discipline and there is a great need for a holistic approach to end-of-life care.  This content is instrumental in doing just that. We believe that it will help healthcare professionals around the world to succeed in providing the best kind of care for their patients.”

Paul Bennett, CEO, Royal Pharmaceutical Society:

“The Palliative Care Formulary is a natural fit with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s globally trusted publishing portfolio. I am delighted that we have been able to acquire this important publication that directly aligns with our vision of being the world leader in the safe and effective use of medicines.”

The Palliative Care Formulary (PCF6) and Introducing Palliative Care (IPC5) is now available to purchase on the Pharmaceutical Press website. The palliativedrugs.com website will continue to provide its normal services including access to the Syringe Driver Database, Bulletin Board and online Palliative Care Formulary.