Adapting to Change: Levemir® Phase Out and Its Implications for Pharmacies

In November 2023, Novo Nordisk® announced that it would be phasing out the company’s long-acting insulin, Levemir®, in the United States. The company cited “global manufacturing constraints, formulary losses impacting patient access, and the availability of alternative options” as the reasons for discontinuing this medication.

The Novo Nordisk® website shows that supply disruptions of Levemir® FlexPen® would start mid-January with discontinuation complete on April 1, 2024. The Levemir® vial would be discontinued by December 31, 2024. Product will only be available while supplies last. There has been no indication that Novo’s other long-acting insulin, Tresiba®, is being discontinued.

PAAS National® has already seen some audit implications with this phase out of Levemir® products.

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The company switch from the Levemir® FlexTouch® to the Levemir® FlexPen® has caused confusion due to the slight differences in product and similar name. See the March 2023 Newsline article, Levemir® FlexPen® is Replacing the Levemir® FlexTouch®, for more on the previous switch.

We do expect PBMs to audit Levemir® through discontinuation of the product. As supply dwindles, and patients are switched to another product, the best thing you can do to protect yourself from audits is to have a conversation with the patient and prescriber and obtain a new prescription for an alternative product before supply gets constrained.

PAAS Tips:

  • If receiving a prescription for a patient new to Levemir®, contact the prescriber and have a conversation about alternative medications – the last thing a patient wants is to be introduced to a medication just as it is being discontinued.
  • Obtain a new prescription for the alternative product instead of making clinical notes on the original to avoid audit issues.
  • Make sure patients and prescribers are aware of any supply chain disruptions to temper expectations.
  • Send all audits to PAAS right away for your best chance of success:

Jenevra Azzopardi, CPhT
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