Britain’s main supplier of insulin is stockpiling the medicine in case Brexit disrupts the supply chain.
Around 4.6 million people in the country are thought to have diabetes and many of them rely on insulin to stay healthy.
Danish healthcare company Novo Nordisk supplies more than half of the UK’s insulin and has revealed it’s importing enough of the vital medication to last four months.
The move comes just weeks after medical experts warned millions of diabetics’ health would be at risk if there was an insulin shortage after Brexit.
Novo Nordisk is stockpiling amid fears Britain will leave the European Union without new trade deals in March, which could make it difficult to import drugs.
The company said it is committed to making sure its patients’ health is not affected by Brexit.
Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk has said it will stash 16 weeks’ worth of insulin – almost triple the government’s six-week recommendation – to make sure people with diabetes are not hit by drug shortages after Brexit
Novo Nordisk will build up a 16-week reserve of insulin in the UK before January next year.
The medication is vital for hundreds of thousands of Brits who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, in which the body cannot use its own insulin.
Britain plans to exit the European Union on March 29 2019 and, in the event of no international trade agreements being made before then, importing and exporting goods could become slower and more expensive.
Without insulin, diabetics risk having dangerously high blood sugar which could send them into a coma.
The government – led by Prime Minister Theresa May, who herself has type 1 diabetes – advised companies to build a six week supply of meds for the country.
And the leading insulin supplier has gone a step further, The Independent reported.
‘Our first commitment is to ensure that patients treated with our medicines remain unaffected in the event of a no-deal Brexit,’ said Pinder Sahota, Novo Nordisk UK’s corporate vice president.
‘Our decision to increase stock is in line with the technical notices and guidance published by the government to industry.’
And the Danish company’s move comes just weeks after Sir Michael Rawlins, chairman of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, said millions of diabetics could be put in danger by drug shortages after Brexit.
Sir Michael told the Pharmaceutical Journal in July: ‘We make no insulin in the UK. We import every drop of it.
‘You can’t transport insulin around ordinarily because it must be temperature-controlled.
‘And there are 3.5 million people who rely on insulin, not least the prime minister.
‘We can’t suddenly start manufacturing insulin — it’s got to be sorted, no question.’
Novo Nordisk’s stockpiling will double its current seven-week reserves over the next few months.
Dan Howarth, head of care at Diabetes UK, told The Independent: ‘This further commitment from Novo Nordisk will no doubt reassure those people with diabetes who rely on the insulin this company produces.
‘Insulin and other diabetes medication aren’t optional extras for the millions of people in the UK who rely on them.
‘It’s incredibly important that the companies involved in their production and distribution, and those involved in guaranteeing their entry into the UK, work together so that supply continues uninterrupted.’
French insulin supplier Sanofi has also said it will increase its reserves by nearly a third to build a 14-week stockpile.