AVAILABILITY OF NATURAL ANIMAL INSULINS IN AUSTRALIA

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In August 1989 the pharmaceutical companies involved in the distribution of porcine insulins in Australia and the Australian government, took a national decision to replace all porcine insulin with synthetic 'human' insulin.   This was to take effect almost immediately and the introduction of this new insulin resulted, almost overnight, in a change over of everyone with insulin dependent diabetes from their natural animal insulin to the new, highly promoted synthetic 'human' insulin.   Beef insulin was not withdrawn, although many people were unaware of this at the time.

• People with diabetes were not asked if they wanted to change, they were not given a choice and they were not told that the synthetic 'human' insulin was genetically produced.
• Neither doctors, diabetes educators nor people with diabetes themselves appeared to challenge the claims of the insulin producers that synthetic 'human' insulin had huge benefits that would lead to a better quality of life.  No benefit has ever been demonstrated!
• The withdrawal of animal insulin was not questioned.

In August 1999 Novo Nordisk also withdrew their beef insulin.   However, beef insulin made by CP Pharmaceuticals Ltd (now Wockhardt UK) in the UK had also been licensed in Australia for many years, but this was not known by the majority of people with diabetes.   Those suffering the adverse effects of synthetic 'human' insulin thought that there were no other insulins available, so appeared to have no alternative but to accept the problems.

PRESENT AVAILABILITY OF ANIMAL INSULINS

• Beef insulins are still made available in Australia by Aspen Pharmacare and they are obtainable through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.  Porcine insulins are now available in Australia through Aspen Pharmacare via the Special Access Scheme.  See Obtaining natural insulins in Australia
• All Novo Nordisk animal insulins have now been withdrawn.

LOCAL LINKS

Introduction to IDDT-Australia
IDDT - Australia Agenda
IDDT Australia News - 7 July 2009 Insulin Analogues and Cancer (more investigation needed)
THE GM INJECTION - Special report from Jo-Ann Goodwin (UK Daily Mail August 2002)
IDDT Australia - Australian Government Indifference!
Availability of animal insulins THIS PAGE
Obtaining natural insulins in Australia - updated 14 March 2007
Options if your diabetes is unstable on synthetic insulin and you live in Australia
Press cuttings & extracts from The Diabetes Australia magazine CONQUEST
Event Reports (dangers highlighted)
Patient experiences
Action Corner
Putting the situation into perspective
Introducing IDDT - PDF file
Diabetes Internet Resources

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The following graphics show the range of insulins made by Wockhardt UK and the approximate response times and duration of activity.

Note:

Hypurin Bovine Neutral and Hypurin Bovine Isophane insulins in 10ml vials are available in Australia through your chemist on the National Pharmaceuticals Scheme by doctor's prescription.   It will cost a normal prescription charge for 5 vials.

WOCKHARDT (ASPEN PHARMACARE) BEEF (BOVINE) INSULINS
Hypurin Bovine Neutral	Short acting in 10ml vials, 1.5ml & 3ml cartridges	10ml vials available Australia
Hypurin Bovine Isophane	Intermediate acting in 10ml vials 3ml cartridges	10ml vials available Australia
Hypurin Bovine Protamine Zinc (PZI)	Long acting in 10ml vials	Not available Australia
Hypurin Bovine Lente	Long acting in 10ml vials	Not available Australia
WOCKHARDT (ASPEN PHARMACARE) PORK (PORCINE) INSULINS
Hypurin Porcine Neutral	Short acting in 10ml vials & 3ml cartridges	10ml vials & 3ml cartridges available Australia via SAS
Hypurin Porcine Isophane	Intermediate acting in 10ml vials & 3ml cartridges	10ml vials & 3ml cartridges available Australia via SAS
Hypurin Porcine 30/70 mix	Mixture of 30% Neutral + 70% Isophane in 10ml vials & 3ml cartridges	Not available Australia

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Web publishing by Ian Kershaw - also a victim of "human" insulin
Copyright © IDDT - Australia
29 July 2009