Description
There are supply disruptions for Ozempic (s/c Semaglutide) and Trulicity (s/c Dulaglutide), expected to last until January 2023. Patients with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are being treating increasingly with these weekly GLP-1 analogue injections, commonly prescribed in primary care.
On 6 September 2022 the
Primary Care Diabetes Society released a position statement issued advice about options for primary care prescribers within the context of Type 2 diabetes. They summarise that, following the Department of Health and Social Care's medicine supply notifications on 30 September 2022:
Ozempic:
- Ozempic 1 mg solution for injection is out of stock until week commencing 17 October 2022. Thereafter, supply will only be available for existing patients until January 2023.
- Ozempic 0.5 mg solution for injection remains available but can only support a partial uplift in demand. Check with local pharmacy teams; in regions where there is stock of the 0.5 mg dose, temporary reduction to this dose may be considered.
Trulicity:
- Supplies of Trulicity 0.75 mg, 1.5 mg, 3 mg and 4.5 mg solution for injection devices are limited until January 2023. Supply will only be available for existing patients.
Key options for switching are summarised on page 2 of their document.
Key features
- Primary Care IT has prepared SystmOne & EMIS searches to help practices identify and contact patients who are on these preparations.
- Suggested contact messages are included in the PCDS statement and here:
- "From your records, we note that you are currently taking Ozempic (semaglutide) / Trulicity (dulaglutide) injections for type 2 diabetes.
- There are disruptions in the supply chain of this medication, which may affect your ability to continue therapy, lasting until January 2023.
- We would like to offer you alternative therapy to bridge this gap in supply and ask that you contact the surgery to discuss at your earliest convenience."
- Since the position for patients with Type 1 diabetes may be different than in Type 2, Primary Care IT also advise discussion with their secondary care team before making switches to alternative therapies or formulations as outlined. Searches have been prepared to help identify both groups and those who appear not to have diabetes from the records.
6 search groups are available, for practice prescribing teams can choose how best to use:
- All patients on these injections, regardless of reason.
- Patients on Trulicity (Dulaglutide), regardless of reason.
- Patients on Ozempic (Semaglutide), regardless of reason.
- Patients with Type 1 diabetes on one of the preparations.
- Patients with Type 2 diabetes on one of the preparations.
- Patients with no diabetes on one of the preparations, who may be prescribed by other clinics for weight loss (off license).