Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to ensure that the availability of animal insulin in the UK is not adversely affected by the discontinuation of animal insulin crystal production at Novo Nordisk's Brazilian manufacturing facility which supplies raw materials to Wockhardt UK; and if she will make a statement. [85274]
Andy Burnham: The Department has had no involvement with NovoNordisk's production of insulin crystals, although I am aware that it acquired the Brazilian company, Biobras, a number of years ago. NovoNordisk has announced that it is discontinuing its animal derived insulins on a worldwide basis. However, animal insulins will remain available from Wockhardt UK, who has confirmed that future supplies of these products are independent of NovoNordisk.
