Tresiba Flextouch Shortage

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Tresiba Flextouch 100units/ml solution for injection 3ml pre-filled pens

Information is available on website: Medicine Supply Notification: Tresiba (insulin degludec) FlexTouch - Community Pharmacy England (cpe.org.uk)

Date of issue 24th May 2023 - updated 20th November 2023

• Tresiba® FlexTouch® (Insulin degludec) 100units/ml pens will be out of stock from August 2023 until December 2024.
• Tresiba Penfill® (Insulin degludec) 100units/ml solution for injection 3ml cartridges remain available and can support increased demand.
• If prescribing a NovoPen device please be aware they are available in different colours. If always prescribing the same colour stocks could become low.

Update from Novo Nordisk on Fiasp® FlexTouch® supply

• Novo Nordisk UK is aware of a temporary stock shortage of Fiasp® (fast-acting insulin aspart) FlexTouch® pre-filled insulin pens in the UK. Other presentations of Fiasp® are unaffected.
• There has been a delay in our next delivery of Fiasp® FlexTouch®, which we expect to arrive in a matter of weeks.  The shortage is not a consequence of any safety or quality related concern with Fiasp® FlexTouch®.
• Ensuring a continuous supply that meets the needs of patients and the NHS is of utmost importance for Novo Nordisk and we are engaging with the Department of Health & Social Care on this issue and working hard so that the next delivery arrives as soon as possible in the UK.
• During this temporary shortage period, healthcare professionals have the option to consider swapping to a suitable alternative for impacted patients, if deemed clinically appropriate.
• We ask that healthcare professionals continue to prescribe in the normal way to ensure stockpiling does not take place. This will allow us to plan our stock levels and to distribute our medicines and treatments in a normal way, so that people can continue to receive their treatment when the shortage is resolved.

Medicines Supply Tool

• DHSC and NHSE/I have now launched an online Medicines Supply Tool, which provides up to date information about medicine supply issues. The contents of these MSNs can now be viewed on the Tool.
• The Tool also details any changes to resupply dates and updates to the entries.
• To access the Tool you will need an NHS email address. Once set up and logged in, you will be able to access it online.

Please be aware that Tresiba insulin is available in two strengths - 100units/ml and 200 units/ml.

Both disposable and refillable insulin pens available in the UK dial 'international units' so no adjustment to the units (dose) of insulin prescribed is required for the change in strength as it is the concentration of insulin that is different, not the number of units a person needs.

For example, if the patient is currently taking 20 units of Tresiba 100 units/ml and is swapped to Tresiba 200 units/ml they will still need to dial 20 units on their insulin pen.