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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Mercaptopurine

Malignant Disease and Immunosuppression Cytotoxic drugs BNF 0801030L0
Data updated April 2026 Download CSV

Mercaptopurine was ranked 647th of 1,792 medicines by items in April 2026, with 3,983 items, down 7.3% on a year earlier.

3,983items -7.3%

Dispensed in April 2026

46,194items

Rolling 12 months

£124,379

Net ingredient cost · April 2026

Figure 1. Mercaptopurine: national items dispensed by month

0 3k 6k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 Apr 2026 3,983 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

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to April 2026

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At a glance

  • Therapeutic class Cytotoxic drugs
  • Presentations 8 shown
  • Average cost / item £31.23
  • Year on year Down 7.3% on a year earlier
What this is
Net ingredient cost is the list price before discounts and dispensing fees, not what the NHS finally pays.

Top presentations, April 2026

The individual products dispensed under Mercaptopurine this month.

Presentations of Mercaptopurine, April 2026
Presentation BNF code Items Net ingredient cost
Mercaptopurine 50mg tablets 0801030L0AAAAAA 3,841 £95,425
Mercaptopurine 10mg tablets 0801030L0AAABAB 53 £6,758
Xaluprine 20mg/ml oral suspension 0801030L0BCABAQ 36 £6,052
Hanixol 50mg tablets 0801030L0BDAAAA 25 £1,442
Mercaptopurine 25mg capsules 0801030L0AAALAL 12 £10,573
Mercaptopurine 10mg capsules 0801030L0AAAGAG 10 £1,871
Mercaptopurine 25mg tablets 0801030L0AAAJAJ 3 £686
Mercaptopurine 75mg tablets 0801030L0AAANAN 3 £1,573

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis · to April 2026 OGL v3.0

Where Mercaptopurine is dispensed

The regions and dispensing practices with the highest Mercaptopurine volumes.

Regional volumes from NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis; practice volumes from NHS dispensing data.

Compare Mercaptopurine with

Other medicines in the same BNF section, by prescribing volume.