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Two diabetes advocacy groups are urging the Canadian government to take immediate steps to ensure an uninterrupted supply of natural animal insulin after an announcement by Eli Lilly that it has ceased production of the needed treatment used by people with diabetes. The groups estimate that over a thousand people will be affected by the decision.
The Society for Diabetic Rights (SDR) and the Insulin Dependent Diabetes Trust (IDDT) want Health Canada to develop a national strategy on insulin, both natural animal and synthetic types, and act immediately to assure people who use pork insulin that they will not be left "high and dry" by US-based Eli Lilly, which has a monopoly over the supply of animal insulin in Canada.
The two groups said that at least 30 different types of genetically natural animal and modified human insulins have been withdrawn from Canada during the last 11 years, causing unnecessary disruption in the supply of an essential medicine to people with diabetes. In 2003 the Standing Committee on Health, during public hearings on animal and genetically modified human insulins, recommended that Health Canada develop Ňa concerted strategy...to ensure a North American supply of animal-sourced insulins."
"Health Canada acknowledged before the Standing Committee on Health that - quote - 'there very clearly are Canadians who need animal-sourced insulins to manage their diabetes'," said Carol Baker, spokesperson for IDDT Canada. "But at the same time it is standing on the sidelines as Eli Lilly withdraws the last remaining animal-sourced insulins from the market, something that will expose some Canadians to unacceptable risk, up to and including disability and even death."
Colleen Fuller, spokesperson for the SDR, said that the insulin supply issue is of concern to all people with diabetes regardless of the type of insulin they use. But Eli Lilly's withdrawal of pork insulin leaves some Canadians without a safe and accessible source of insulin. She called on Health Canada to make Eli Lilly's access to the Canadian insulin market conditional on its continued supply of pork insulin until affordable alternatives are available in pharmacies.
"Health Canada has to assure people with diabetes that they don't have to live in fear that the insulin they need to maintain their health has disappeared from the market because Eli Lilly has a scheme to earn even higher insulin profits. Eli Lilly is given access to the Canadian market as a privilege, not a right." Fuller said.
Baker said that many people with diabetes who use Iletin insulins do so because they are unable to tolerate genetically modified human insulins, including insulin analogues. Insulin manufacturers are replacing all insulins with newer insulin analogues which have not been adequately tested or been subject to post marketing surveillance.
"Studies have shown that insulin analogues have negligible clinical benefit for patients in terms of diabetes control," Baker said. "But their long-term safety and efficacy is unknown and their potential for carcinogenic effects is recognized by the scientific community. These concerns have been raised by the European Commission and we want Health Canada to follow the EU's lead before a situation arises whereby patient choice is virtually eliminated resulting in a one-size-all approach to the treatment of diabetes using insulin analogues.
Baker and Fuller said their two organizations want Health Canada to make Eli Lilly's access to the Canadian market conditional on the continued supply of pork insulin until a long term insulin strategy is in place for the uninterrupted supply of animal insulins. They are also inviting those concerned about the withdrawal of Humulin insulin brands to work with them to demand a consumer-focused approach to the supply of safe and affordable insulin in Canada.
"Our focus is to ensure that those whose lives are at risk when they use genetically modified insulins have uninterrupted and affordable supplies of natural, animal-sourced insulin," Fuller said. "However, we will work with others who want a public policy framework that puts their interests ahead of those of the pharmaceutical industry when it comes to insulin. We need an insulin strategy in Canada dictated by clinical need and not by the marketing practices of pharmaceutical companies."
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For more information please contact:
Colleen Fuller
Society for Diabetic Rights (SDR)
PO Box 57121, 2480 East Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V5K 1Z1
Tel. 604-255-6601
Carol Baker
Insulin Dependent Diabetes Trust (IDDT)
PO Box 30165
Victoria, BC V8X 5E1
Tel/Fax: 250-477-8564
For more information, send us an email at info@diabeticrights.ca Last Modified: ©2009
