Technology, injections & supplies

Animal insulin vials are going, but the insulin stays: Hypurin Porcine changes

Wockhardt’s Hypurin Porcine (pig) insulin 10ml vials are being discontinued across 2025 and 2026. The same insulins stay available in 3ml cartridges.

Written by Updated 23 July 2025 3 min read
The 60-second answer

If you use Hypurin Porcine (animal) insulin in 10ml vials, the vials are being phased out, but the insulin itself is staying. The same pig-derived insulin continues in cartridges that go into a reusable pen. So this is a change of container, not the loss of your insulin. It matters most to the smaller group who rely on animal insulin, and the main thing to plan is a move from a syringe and vial to a pen.

  • Wockhardt is discontinuing the Hypurin Porcine 10ml vials across 2025 and 2026, but the porcine (pig) insulin continues in a different format.
  • The same insulin stays available in 3ml cartridges that click into a reusable insulin pen, so this is a change of container, not of insulin.
  • This matters most to the smaller group who use animal insulin, often because they do not get on well with synthetic (analogue or human) insulins.
  • If you currently draw insulin from a vial with a syringe, moving to a pen and cartridges is the main practical change to plan for.
  • The step is a device conversation with your team, so you move over smoothly and are never left without your usual insulin.
What happened

The vial is going, the insulin is not

Animal insulin is an older type, made from pigs, that a number of people still rely on, often because they do not get on as well with the synthetic analogue or human insulins that most people use today. So a headline about it being discontinued can feel alarming. The key detail is that the notice is about the 10ml vial, not the insulin. The porcine insulin will continue to be available, just in cartridges for use with a pen. If animal insulin is what works for you, it is not being taken away.

What it means

Moving from a syringe to a pen

Because the insulin is the same, this is really about the delivery device. If you have always drawn your insulin up from a vial with a syringe, a pen and cartridges will be a new way of doing something very familiar, and it is worth a proper run-through with your diabetes team or pharmacist so it feels natural before you switch fully. Start the conversation in good time rather than when your vials are nearly gone, so there is never a gap. If you have a strong reason to stay with vials and syringes, raise that too, and your team can talk through what your options are.

What to notice

Worth knowing

The porcine insulin itself is not being withdrawn. Only the 10ml vial is, and the same insulin continues in cartridges for a pen.
If you use Hypurin vials, start the switch early rather than when you are nearly out, so there is never a gap in your insulin.
Moving from a syringe to a pen is a new skill worth a proper run-through with your team or pharmacist.
If you are ever struggling to get your insulin, your diabetes team or NHS 111 can help. Do not simply go without.
What to ask your team

Questions that make an appointment useful

"I use Hypurin Porcine vials. Which cartridges and pen would I move to, and is the insulin exactly the same?"
"Can someone show me how to use the pen and cartridges before my vials run out?"
"I get on with animal insulin and not the synthetic types. Will the cartridge version keep that the same for me?"
Sources