National Patient Safety Alert: Levemir® (insulin detemir) FlexPen® and Levemir® (insulin detemir) Penfill®

National Patient Safety Alert:

• Levemir® (insulin detemir) FlexPen® 100units/ml solution for injection 3ml prefilled pens and;
• Levemir® (insulin detemir) Penfill® 100units/ml solution for injection 3ml cartridges

National Patient Safety Alert Reference Number: NatPSA/2026/006/DHSC

Date issued: 1 October 2026

Explanation of identified safety issue

This alert is to supplement previous communications issued:

• Medicine Supply Notification (MSN/2025/036) – issued on 16th June 2025;
• Medicine Supply Notification (MSN/2025/036U) – issued on 14th August 2025; and
• Medicine Supply Notification (MSN/2025/036U2) – issued on 15th April 2026.

Levemir® (insulin detemir) FlexPen® 100units/ml solution for injection 3ml pre-filled pens and Levemir® (insulin detemir) Penfill® 100units/ml solution for injection 3ml cartridges are being discontinued from end of December 2026 with stocks anticipated to be exhausted by this date.

Levemir® is a long-acting insulin analogue with a prolonged duration of effect used as a basal insulin. It is licensed for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in adults, adolescents and children aged 1 year and above. It can be used alone as the basal insulin or in combination with bolus insulin.  It can also be used in combination with oral antidiabetic medicinal products and/or GLP-1 receptor agonists.

A range of alternative insulins from other suppliers are available. Please refer to the SPS Medicines Supply Tool entry for the discontinuation of Levemir® products for an overview of the supply situation and up to date supply stock overview of recommended insulins. The Medicines Supply Tool should be monitored regularly, as supply capabilities of alternative options remain subject to change.

Actions required

From immediate effect:

Clinicians and prescribers of Levemir® must:

• Not initiate patients on any Levemir® product.

Community pharmacists must:

• When presented with prescriptions for Levemir® products, after ensuring the patient has sufficient insulin, refer patients back to their prescriber, highlighting the need to switch to an alternative insulin due to the imminent Levemir® discontinuation.

As soon as possible and no later than 30/11/2026: Clinicians and prescribers of Levemir® must:

• In line with locally agreed plans, implement insulin switches for all existing Levemir® patients in line with the clinical guidance that has been produced by clinical experts
• Local teams should ensure that they have checked the current supply overview of alternative insulins and aim to diversify prescribing across available alternatives to reduce the risk of precipitating a supply disruption of alternative products
• In addition to consulting the clinical guidance, when prescribing alternatives, consider manual dexterity, vision, and whether additional support is required for administration, and:
  • ensure that all patients/carers are counselled on dose to be administered, provided with training on the use of their new device, as well as appropriate ancillaries, including signposting to training videos; and
  • advise patients that closer monitoring of blood glucose levels is required initially, and their insulin dose may need to be adjusted
• Seek advice from specialist diabetes teams where required

Please see full guidance in the alert.