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January 2024: Shortage of GLP-1 receptor agonists update
News
January 2024: Shortage of GLP-1 receptor agonists update
National Patient Safety Alert (3rd January 2024): Shortage of GLP-1 receptor agonists update (updates underlined)
- Supply is not expected to return to normal until at least the end of 2024.
- The supply issues have been caused by an increase in demand for these products for licensed and off-label indications.
- Please refer to the SPS Prescribing available GLP-1 receptor agonists for an up-to-date supply stock situation and the SPS Medicines Supply Tool for a summary of the current situation and advice, and clinical guidance on alternative treatment options.
Actions for clinicians:
- Only prescribe GLP-1 RAs for their licensed indications
- Prescribe Rybelsus (semaglutide) tablets for new indications of a GLP-1 RA (in line with NICE NG28).
- Proactively identify patients prescribed Byetta (exenatide) and Victoza (liraglutide) injections and (in line with NICE NG28) switch to Rybelsus (semaglutide) tablets.
- Counsel patients on any changes in drugs, formulation, and dose regimen where appropriate (see 'Additional information' section of National Patient Safety Alert).
- Review the need for prescribing a GLP-1 RA agent and stop treatment if no longer required due to not achieving desired clinical effect as per NICE NG28.
- Where a higher dose preparation of GLP-1 RA is not available, do not substitute by doubling up a lower dose preparation.
- Do not switch between strengths of a GLP-1 RA solely based on availability.
- Where an alternative glucose lowering therapy needs to be considered, use the principles of shared decision making as per NICE guidelines in conjunction with the Clinical Guidance from a collaboration of The Primary Care Diabetes Society (PCDS) and Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD), here.
- If switching a patient on to insulin, ensure an insulin is chosen as per information on the Specialist Pharmacy Service page on prescribing available insulins as not all suppliers are able to manage an uplift in demand.
- Where there is reduced access to GLP-1 RAs, support people with type 2 diabetes to access structured education and weight management programmes where available.
- Order stocks sensibly in line with demand during this time, limiting prescribing to minimise risk to the supply chain whilst acknowledging the needs of the patient.
See here for drug entries
