Adrenaline auto-injectors to be imported from Austria to mitigate supply issues

The manufacturers of an adrenaline auto-injector have been given permission to import stock from Austria following a supply issue in the UK.

A letter from manufacturer ALK-Abello to pharmacists has warned of supply issues affecting its Jext 300 microgram devices.

In order to “maintain an overall adequate supply”, the manufacturer has obtained permission from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to import stock from Austria.

“Although not licensed in the UK, it is equivalent to the UK licensed product and is licensed in Austria,” the letter said, adding that the imported stock will have “an Austrian German language pack, label and patient information leaflet”.

However, the manufacturer added that each device would “be supplied in a clear envelope which will also contain a UK patient information leaflet”.

Pharmacists will be charged a £20 handling fee per order of unlicensed Austrian stock, which can be reclaimed in the usual way for unlicensed specials.

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee has advised pharmacists that if a prescriber has asked for an imported device to be dispensed, they should ensure prescriptions are annotated with “specials/unlicensed” in the prescribing line.