Novo Nordisk UK sets date for discontinuation of animal insulins

Novo Nordisk will discontinue the sales of all its animal derived insulins. These are Porcine Actrapid^® 10ml vial, Porcine Mixtard® 10ml vial and Porcine Insulatard® 10ml vial. These products will not be available after the end of December 2007.

Animal insulin is derived from the pancreas of slaughtered animals and was first produced in 1923. Since that time there has been significant improvement of insulin quality and formulation. As a consequence, demand for these old animal insulins has declined by as much 20% in the last year to a point where approximately 2% of all insulin users are currently using these products.

Novo Nordisk has supported these insulins with considerable funds despite the fact that the sale of those insulins has been stopped in many other countries. The withdrawal of these products will allow the company to rationalise its portfolio and focus additional resources into the further advancement of diabetes care.

Viggo Birch, Managing Director, Novo Nordisk Ltd, said: "Novo Nordisk is committed to providing the most advanced, safe and effective diabetes treatments in the UK and worldwide. We have been in discussions with the Department of Health, Diabetes UK and diabetes specialists across the UK. This announcement is part of our commitment to provide adequate warning of the discontinuation, so as to ensure that the few patients still on Novo Nordisk’s animal insulin in the UK are transferred to suitable alternative insulins."

Although Novo Nordisk recognises that this discontinuation may cause inconvenience for patients still using animal insulins and additional workload for health care professionals, the company believes it is an opportunity for the users of animal insulins to have their situation reviewed and potentially to improve their treatment.