The Department of Health of Catalonia will soon authorise pharmacies to produce compounded estradiol formulations following a severe shortage of the menopause spray Lenzetto. The Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products listed the drug as having supply issues since March, with shortages first detected in late 2025.
Manufacturer Gedeon Richter attributed the deficit to a failure in the delivery device and an exceptional surge in demand, which rose from 13,000 units in 2018 to 123,000 in 2024. While new units are expected in late November, the company does not anticipate a fully normalised supply until 2027 despite a recent price increase.
With supply problems also affecting Bijuva, Estradot 75, and Evopad 25, pharmacies will use raw estradiol to prepare bespoke creams or solutions. The Catalan government expects doctors to begin prescribing these pharmacy-compounded alternatives within one month to ensure patients maintain access to essential hormone therapy.