Fast-acting insulin in short supply

A medicine supply warning for the insulin aspart, trurapi 100 units/ml solution for injection 3ml pre-filled solostar pens, has been issued by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

On 18 May, the DHSC issued a tier 2 – medium impact – medicine supply notification stating that trurapi (insulin aspart) 100 units/ml solution for injection 3ml pre-filled solostar pens will be in limited supply until late May 2026. Following which, they will be out of stock period until mid-June 2026.

The notification also states that trurapi 100 units/ml solution for injection 3ml cartridges will remain available and can support increased demand. Furthermore, these cartridges are compatible with the AllStar PRO and JuniorSTAR pens, which can also support increased demand.

Additionally, NovoRapid FlexPen (insulin aspart) 100units/ml solution for injection 3ml pre-filled pens will remain available and can support increased demand, and fiasp (insulin aspart) products will remain available but are not interchangeable with trurapi due to differences in bioavailability.

Trurapi is a rapid-acting insulin used to reduce high blood sugar levels in adults, adolescents and children aged 1 year and above with diabetes.

A copy of this medicine supply notification, including supporting information, has been sent to all pharmacy NHS email addresses.

DHSC and NHS England have launched an online medicines supply tool, which provides up-to-date information about medicine supply issues. The contents of these medicine supply notifications can now be viewed on the tool.