The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published a Medicines Shortage Notification (MSN/2023/051) confirming that Novo Nordisk’s GlucaGen® (glucagon) HypoKit® is in short supply and making recommendations to healthcare professionals about action they can take as a result to support patients.
This temporary supply shortage is not a consequence of any safety or quality related concerns. The cause of the shortage is a shortfall in the supply of pre-filled syringes from an external supplier, which has resulted in supply constraints of the GlucaGen® HypoKit®. Novo Nordisk is doing everything we can to work with the external supplier, in order to stabilise the supply of pre-filled syringes for the GlucaGen® HypoKit® as soon as we can.
Please see below for the summary points contained within the MSN. The full publication can be found on the Specialist Pharmacy Service website here.
Summary points from Medicines Supply Notification MSN/2023/051
- There are two glucagon preparations available – GlucaGen® (1mg powder for injection kit) and Ogluo® (0.5mg and 1mg pre-filled auto-injector pens)
- GlucaGen® 1mg powder for injection kit will be unavailable from mid-June 2023 until to mid-July (a period of 4 weeks).
- Ogluo® 0.5mg and 1mg pre-filled auto-injector pens can be used for the treatment of severe hypoglycaemic episodes; however, is not suitable for treatment of beta blocker or other drug overdoses.
- Ogluo® is available to order from the wholesaler, Alliance.
You can contact the Novo Nordisk customer care team on 0800 232573 for help with the latest information.
