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Message: <blockquote data-quote="iddt01" data-source="post: 173201" data-attributes="member: 17363">Mixtard 30 has gone but Actraphane is available and in the InnoLetWhat is Actraphane? It is a pre-mix 30/70 insulin made by Novo Nordisk which is similar or near-identical insulin to Mixtard 30.At the end of 2010, Novo Nordisk discontinued human Mixtard 30 for commercial reasons and 90,000 people had to change their insulin. IDDT wrote to Andrew Lansley, the Secretary of State for Health but his response showed little understanding, or indeed interest, in the effects of this withdrawal on patients, health professionals and the NHS. IDDT and others were particularly concerned at the removal of the InnoLet, an injection device which enables people with visual or manual dexterity problems to self-inject, without which, many will need the twice daily assistance of others to inject.IDDT investigationsIDDT discovered that Actraphane is licensed and available in Europe, including the InnoLet. We followed this up with the UK licensing authority, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency [MHRA] and we were informed that:•    Actraphane is a licensed product in the UK [MHRA to IDDT, 17.12.10]•    As a licensed product in the UK it can be prescribed by a doctor. A product prescribed can be sourced by a pharmacy through their wholesalers or by contacting the company directly. [MHRA to IDDT, 21.12.10]So it appears all that was necessary on the withdrawal of Mixtard 30 was a simple change to Actraphane and those needing an InnoLet need not have been denied it.  IDDT ActionsWe have written to the Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley asking for explanations to our concerns:•    That the information supplied by the Department of Health and by Novo Nordisk approved by the Department, did not include that Actraphane is a UK licensed product which can be prescribed and dispensed through the UK NHS.•    That we are shocked and dismayed that the Department of Health did not seek information from its own agency, the MHRA, to ensure that the correct information was given to patients and health professionals. •    That 90,000 people with diabetes went through considerable distress and disruption to their lives unnecessarily, especially those needing the InnoLet, not to mention the effects on health professionals and the NHS.•    That the Government’s policy of ‘patients being at the centre of care’ and the phrase ‘no decision about me without me’ appears to have been completely ignored in the case of withdrawal of Mixtard 30.We await the response from the Secretary of State but in the meantime, we felt that we should make you aware of the availability of Actraphane, especially if you are experiencing difficulties with your new insulin or injection device. I am only sorry that it has taken so long to find out this information. If we can be of further help, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01604 622837 or <a href="mailto:enquiries@iddtinternational.org">enquiries@iddtinternational.org</a></blockquote>

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