Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply disruption alert for Tinzaparin sodium (10,000 IU/ml) 3,500 units in 0.35 ml and 4,500 units in 0.45 ml pre-filled syringes.
Leo Pharma, the sole supplier of tinzaparin is experiencing capacity issues at the production plant in France due to an increase in global demand.
It is expected these will be resolved later in the year and supply will return to normal from early 2022.
Tinzaparin sodium 3,500units in 0.35 ml and 4,500units in 0.45 ml pre-filled syringes will be unavailable between middle of October 2021 and January 2022 (date TBC).
GPs and Health Care Professionals who prescribe tinzaparin should identify all patients that may be impacted and ensure that their treatment is reviewed, with support from secondary care colleagues if appropriate, and the patient is switched to another LMWH before mid-October 2021; the impacted patients receive appropriate counselling to support a safe switch; and no new patients are initiated on treatment with the impacted products.
Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS) Medicines Information team has put together a table of LMWHs and fondaparinux that can be used by organisations to support their review of alternatives.
