Glucagon Shortage and Impending Discontinuation
October 9, 2024
Glucagon for Injection is now available through Health Canada’s exceptional importation program. While Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have both discontinued their products, Amphastar’s US-authorized Glucagon for Injection has been added to the List of drugs for exceptional importation and sale and has been supporting the Canadian market. Please read Amphastar’s risk communication to healthcare professionals which contains information on how to order supply.
While Amphastar has indicated that they anticipate being able to meet the entire market demand, there are now no longer any market authorisation holders of Glucagon Injection in Canada. Health Canada is following up with manufacturers who have expressed plans to file submissions to market Glucagon Injection in Canada.
CSEM will continue to advocate for access to medications for Canadian patients. If you would like to help, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
April 28, 2023
CSEM and CPEG are concerned about the current supply of injectable glucagon, particularly for pediatric and neonatal patients, and patients in need of testing. We have jointly advocated with Health Canada and Glucagon was determined to be in a tier 3 shortage on April 20, 2023. This will facilitate the implementation of strategies to help mitigate the shortage.
Through meetings with Health Canada’s Drug Shortages Unit and key stakeholders, we have learned:
- Eli Lilly will be discontinuing their injectable glucagon product globally; Canadian supply is expected to be diminished by the end of summer 2023, but may occur sooner if demand increases. Glucagon nasal powder (Baqsimi) remains available. Current demand for Glucagon injection is much greater than the current demand for the nasal powder. Eli Lilly has reported they could sustain a small demand increase in the nasal powder and will require additional demand planning information from health systems to plan for larger demand increases to avoid a shortage.
- Novo Nordisk is reporting a shortage of their GlucaGen® HypoKit® due to supply issues. They have supply on-hand for existing customers until Fall-2023. They have indicated they cannot meet any additional needs or demand. The shortage is anticipated to end December 31, 2023. Novo Nordisk indicates that there are no plans nor ability to increase production of GlucaGen once their current production issues are resolved.
- Glucagon is indicated for emergency treatment of severe hypoglycemia, as well as a diagnostic aid. GlucaGen is indicated for emergency treatment of severe hypoglycemia but is not indicated for intravenous or subcutaneous use and is not indicated as a diagnostic aid. Baqsimi is not indicated for children under 4 and cannot be used as a diagnostic aid.
- Health Canada is also currently assessing the potential to allow the exceptional importation of foreign authorized product as a further mitigation strategy. It is also closely monitoring current injectable glucagon and nasal glucagon supplies. Health Canada will be providing updates the CSEM and CPEG on a regular basis.
CSEM and CPEG are requesting these mitigation strategies are implemented urgently to preserve supply for patients who need glucagon the most, and to ensure a consistent supply of glucagon beyond 2023.