The government is now operating in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions, pending the outcome of the 2025 federal election.
Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk (the sponsor) has advised us that it will gradually discontinue some of its earlier generation insulin products between late 2024 and late 2026.
The sponsor has announced that:
- in some cases, although one presentation of a product is discontinued, the product will remain available in a different presentation (for example, the FlexTouch prefilled pen may be replaced by a Penfill cartridge)
- patients will have ample time to move to alternative options before products are discontinued
- this is part of a global strategy and is not related to product safety, quality or effectiveness.
Upcoming discontinuations of insulin products
The products that we anticipate will be affected are listed in the table below:
| Product presentation | Anticipated date of discontinuation |
|---|---|
| Mixtard 30 Penfill (insulin human/isophane (NPH) insulin human 30/70) | October 2024 |
| Fiasp vials (fast acting insulin aspart) | December 2024 |
| Ryzodeg FlexTouch (insulin degludec + insulin aspart 70/30) | February 2025 (go to our webpage for information) |
| Protaphane InnoLet (isophane (NPH) insulin human) | February 2025 (go to our webpage for information) |
| Fiasp FlexTouch (fast acting insulin aspart) | March 2025 |
| Protaphane Penfill (isophane (NPH) insulin human) | December 2026 |
| Levemir FlexPen & Penfill (insulin detemir) | December 2026 |
| Actrapid Penfill (human insulin) | December 2026 |
| NovoFine Autocover | December 2026 |
We will inform patients and health care professionals about any changes in the availability of individual insulin products through alerts and updates to this page.
Updated information will also be available in the Medicine Shortage Reports Database - external site ─ search by the active ingredient ‘Insulin’ and filter by the ‘Discontinuations’ tab on the database homepage.
We recognise the vital role of insulin for people with diabetes in Australia. We will work with the sponsor to minimise the impact of these discontinuations by providing early advice that includes alternative options.
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) has published a fact sheet for all patients - external site affected by the discontinuation of insulin products.
The Commission has also published guidance for clinicians regarding strategies and safety considerations - external site in responding to the discontinuations of insulin products.
Discontinuation of Ryzodeg FlexTouch and interim substitution option
As Ryzodeg 70/30 FlexTouch insulin prefilled pens were deleted from the market on 1 February 2025, we have made a Serious Scarcity Substitution Instrument - external site (SSSI). This means that pharmacists can give patients Ryzodeg 70/30 Penfill cartridges instead of Ryzodeg 70/30 FlexTouch prefilled pens under certain conditions without a new prescription from the prescriber.
Both products contain the same medicine, at the same strength, have the same storage requirements and are administered by injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection). However, the devices used to administer the medicine are different.
Please go to About the discontinuation of Ryzodeg 70/30 FlexTouch insulin prefilled pens for more information.
Discontinuation of Protaphane InnoLet and interim substitution option
As Protaphane InnoLet human insulin (rys) 100 IU/mL injection multidose cartridge was deleted from the market on 1 February 2025, we have made a Serious Scarcity Substitution Instrument - external site (SSSI). The SSSI allows a pharmacist to dispense Protaphane Penfill human insulin (rys) 100 IU/mL injection multidose cartridge in its place, without a new prescription from the prescriber.
Resources and fact sheets about the Protaphane Innolet discontinuation have been developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) and diabetes expert groups. These expert groups included: Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society, Australian Diabetes Educators Association, Australian Diabetes Society, Diabetes Australia, Society of Obstetrics Medicine Australia and New Zealand and Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
- The ACSQHC fact sheet for clinicians - external site advising them on how to respond to the discontinuation of Protaphane InnoLet.
- The Consensus advice for health services and clinicians following the discontinuation of the Protaphane InnoLet devic - external sitee.
Please go to About the discontinuation of Protaphane InnoLet human insulin cartridges for more information.