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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Mercaptopurine vs Afatinib

National NHS prescribing compared (Prescription Cost Analysis)
Data updated May 2026

Mercaptopurine was dispensed 3,749.0× as often as Afatinib in May 2026 — 3,749 items versus 1 in England.

3,749items

Mercaptopurine · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

1items

Afatinib · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Mercaptopurine versus Afatinib: national items dispensed by month

▬ Mercaptopurine   ·   ╌ Afatinib

0 3k 6k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Afatinib 3,749 Jan 2021: 6k Feb 2021: 5k Mar 2021: 6k Apr 2021: 6k May 2021: 5k Jun 2021: 6k Jul 2021: 6k Aug 2021: 5k Sep 2021: 6k Oct 2021: 5k Nov 2021: 5k Dec 2021: 6k Jan 2022: 5k Feb 2022: 5k Mar 2022: 6k Apr 2022: 5k May 2022: 6k Jun 2022: 5k Jul 2022: 5k Aug 2022: 5k Sep 2022: 5k Oct 2022: 5k Nov 2022: 5k Dec 2022: 5k Jan 2023: 5k Feb 2023: 5k Mar 2023: 5k Apr 2023: 5k May 2023: 5k Jun 2023: 5k Jul 2023: 5k Aug 2023: 5k Sep 2023: 5k Oct 2023: 5k Nov 2023: 5k Dec 2023: 5k Jan 2024: 5k Feb 2024: 5k Mar 2024: 5k Apr 2024: 5k May 2024: 5k Jun 2024: 5k Jul 2024: 5k Aug 2024: 5k Sep 2024: 5k Oct 2024: 5k Nov 2024: 4k Dec 2024: 5k Jan 2025: 5k Feb 2025: 4k Mar 2025: 4k Apr 2025: 4k May 2025: 4k Jun 2025: 4k Jul 2025: 5k Aug 2025: 4k Sep 2025: 4k Oct 2025: 4k Nov 2025: 4k Dec 2025: 4k Jan 2026: 4k Feb 2026: 4k Mar 2026: 4k Apr 2026: 4k May 2026: 4k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Mercaptopurine versus Afatinib, May 2026
Measure Mercaptopurine Afatinib
Items, May 2026 3,749 1
Items, last 12 months 49,943 2
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £111,195 £2,023

See the full profile for Mercaptopurine or Afatinib.