§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assurances he has sought from(a) Novo Nordisk and (b) CP Pharmaceuticals about the long-term provision of animal insulin; [166020]
(2) what steps he has taken to ensure the long-term supply of (a) human insulin and (b) animal insulin. [166021]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe Department is in regular contact with Novo Nordisk and CP Pharmaceuticals and both these companies have confirmed that they will continue to supply animal insulin and human insulin for the foreseeable future.
§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the efficacy of(a) human insulin and (b) animal insulin for people with diabetes. [166022]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonAll authorised insulins, whether human insulin or animal insulin, have been demonstrated to be efficacious in people with diabetes mellitus. As part of the licensing approval process for any medicinal product, including insulins, the applicant has to provide evidence that the product meets appropriate standards of quality, safety and efficacy. This will include clinical trial data in patients with diabetes. Findings from the Cochrane review, which compared the effects of synthetic human insulin and natural animal insulin in diabetic patients from 1996 to 2002 and was subsequently updated in 2003, indicate that both human and animal insulins are equally effective. The decision to use one or other of the insulin rests with the physician in consultation with the patient.
§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the number of people with diabetes who are(a) unwilling and (b) unable to use human insulin to manage their condition; and what proportion of people with diabetes using insulin to manage their condition these represent. [166023]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThis information is not collected centrally. However, both human and animal insulins remain available.