Arrotex Pharmaceuticals has advised that the sale and distribution of Anapen® Junior 150 and Anapen® 300 used for the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis are to cease in Australia:

• Anapen® 300 will be available until end July 2024.
• Anapen® Junior 150 will be available until end September 2024.

Anapen® 500 and Anapen® Trainer devices will remain available and Arrotex is committed to the continued supply of Anapen® 500 as the only 500mcg adrenaline injector device available on the PBS.  

Hard plastic Anapen® cases for Anapen® 500 devices are now available free of charge for patients from their pharmacist. To view the case go to https://anapen.com.au/anapencase/  Arrotex will also have these cases available on their exhibition stand at the ASCIA 2024 Conference in Adelaide.

The decision to discontinue Anapen® Junior 150 and Anapen® 300 is due to lack of demand for a second brand of adrenaline autoinjector for the 150mcg and 300mcg strengths. This decision is voluntary and not related to any quality, safety or efficacy issues regarding the products. Patients with prescriptions for either product can be substituted at pharmacy level with appropriate training (Anapen® Junior 150 and Anapen® 300 are ‘a’ flagged to EpiPen Junior and EpiPen). More information is available at www.anapen.com.au  

ASCIA will update ASCIA Action Plans, First Aid Plans and e-training courses to remove mention of the Anapen® Junior 150 and Anapen® 300 devices.

This news item was issued on 2 July 2024 by Jill Smith, CEO of ASCIA, the peak professional body for clinical immunology and allergy in Australia and New Zealand.