Supply Issues Johnson & Johnson Medical Limited Surgical Sutures (ICN 2341)

• The supply issue of Surgical Suture products from Johnson and Johnson is improving.
• 14 product codes are now available to order through our online catalogue.
• Six previously suspended products have now been delisted.
• FKV85140 and FVU154 are available while stocks last, once the stock has been depleted the product will be delisted from the catalogue.
• Ten additional products have been added to the ICN:
  • FVP328, FVS287, FVS577, FVS607, FVS928, FVU027, FVU479, FVU493, FVU680 and FVU893.
• 22 suspended products in total.
• Potential indirect alternative products are available to order through our online catalogue for the affected products. However, some of these products may also become subject to intermittent supply with the increase in demand.
• Please note that due to the clinical nature of these alternative products, we advise you to consult your clinical experts to ensure suitability for your organisation’s use of these products.
• See our Downloads ▼ section to access the product listing for further information on the affected product codes and potential alternatives. The supplier has also provided a customer communication which can be accessed here.
• We do not currently have a resolution date for the supply issue. We will update this ICN as soon as we have further information.

• The supply issue with Surgical Suture products from Johnson & Johnson is continuing.
• 19 product codes are now available to order through our online catalogue:
  • FVS046, FVQ124, FVQ3939, FVS532, FVT167, FVT417, FVT960, FVU278, FVU486, FVU487, FVU489, FVU690, FVU745, FVU794, FVU799, FVU893, FVS1033, FVS613 and FXS85374.
• 35 products are currently suspended and unavailable to order.
• Nine of the affected products are due to be delisted as of 1 May 2024:
  • FKV85136, FKV85140, FVQ2743, FVS1048, FVS438, FVU154, FXS85035, FXS85168, and FXS85259.
• One previously affected code FVU287, is now delisted and unavailable to order.
• 36 codes are now affected in total.
• The current disruption is due to raw material and manufacturing issues, with most of the backlog in the Vicryl and PDS ranges driven by needle shortages.
• The supplier is expecting to see visible improvements in PDS within the coming weeks due to a significant increase in the supply of critical needles.
• As we continue to take steps forward with the supplier to reinstate supply, we are currently engaging in weekly discussions with senior personnel to review the supply disruption and the progress that has been and is being made.
• Potential indirect alternative products are available to order through our online catalogue for the affected products. However, some of these products may also become subject to intermittent supply with the increase in demand.
• See our Downloads ▼ section to access the product listing for further information on the affected product codes and potential alternatives.
• We do not currently have a resolution date for the supply issue and will update this ICN as soon as we have further information.
• Customers can contact Johnson & Johnson directly if they have any queries for alternatives that may not be listed within our catalogue but may be available through Johnson & Johnson’s portfolio, see our Downloads ▼ section to access the contact sheet, where you will be required to log in.

Please note that due to the clinical nature of these alternative products, we advise you to consult your clinical experts to ensure suitability for your organisation’s use of these products.

• The supply issue with Surgical Suture products from Johnson and Johnson has improved.
• Two product codes are now available to order through our online catalogue:
  • FVR194 and FVU168.
• Four previously affected product codes which were pending delist have become available and are currently subject to intermittent supply:
  • FVS1033, FVS613, FXS85374 and FVU287.
• One further product code is now subject to intermittent supply:
  • FXS85168.
• One previously affected product code that was pending delist is now suspended and unavailable to order:
  • FVS046.
• Eight further product codes are now suspended and unavailable to order:
  • FKV85136, FVT027, FVT031, FVT053, FVT167, FXS85035, FVS438 and FXS85259.
• Six product codes remain subject to intermittent supply:
  • FVQ124, FVU278, FVU486, FVU487, FVU489 and FVU690.
• 42 product codes are affected in total.
• As stock is moving rapidly, please be aware that some product codes may become subject to intermittent supply.
• Potential indirect alternative products are available to order through our online catalogue for most of the affected products. However, some of these products may also become subject to intermittent supply with the increase in demand.
• See our Downloads ▼ section to access the product listing for further information on the affected product codes and potential alternatives.
• We do not currently have a resolution date for the supply issue and will update this ICN as soon as we have further information.

• The supply issue with Surgical Suture products from Johnson and Johnson is continuing.
• 17 product codes are now available to order through our online catalogue.
• 16 further product codes are now suspended and unavailable to order:
  • FVQ124, FVR194, FVS216, FVS532, FVT094, FVT107, FVT417, FVT632, FVT815, FVU018, FVU112, FVU168, FVU278, FVU486, FVU745 and FVU799.
• 14 product codes remain suspended from the previous update.
• One previously affected product code has now been delisted from our online catalogue:
  • FXS85282.
• Five product codes are in the process of being delisted:
  • FVS046, FVS1033, FVS613, FVU287 and FXS85374.
• 36 product codes are now affected in total.
• Potential indirect alternative products are available to order through our online catalogue for the affected products. However, some of these products may also become subject to intermittent supply with the increase in demand.
• See our Downloads ▼ section to access the product listing for further information on the affected product codes and potential alternatives.
• We do not currently have a resolution date for the supply issue and will update this ICN as soon as we have further information.

• The supply issue with Surgical Suture products from Johnson and Johnson is continuing.
• Three further product codes are now affected, these products are available to order on an intermittent supply basis:
• • FVS344 – Suture non-absorbable
  • FVS496 – Suture absorbable
  • FVQ138 – Suture non-absorbable.
• 29 product codes remain suspended and unavailable to order from our online catalogue.
• 32 product codes are now affected in total.
• The supplier advises that current expectations are that supply will improve around 28 February 2024 with a further, larger improvement around 15 July 2024.
• There are potential indirect alternatives for some of the products. These products are available to order through our online catalogue.
• Please note that currently there are no identified alternatives for FVU283, FVU327, FXS85282 and FVQ138.
• See our Downloads▼ section to access the product listing for further information on the affected product codes and potential alternatives.

• The supply issue of Surgical Suture range with Johnson and Johnson is continuing.
• 10 products have been recovered and are now available to order.
• Eight of the previously affected products are now depleted and unavailable to order. Please see the delisted tab within the product listing for more information on these products.
• 24 additional products are now affected.
• There are now a total of 29 product codes impacted in total, all of which are currently suspended and unavailable to order.
• All alternatives identified are available to order except FVU894 and FVU893 which are alternatives of each other. A second alternative is available for these products.
• The supplier advises that current expectations are that supply will improve around 15 Feb 2024 with a further, larger improvement, around 15 April 2024.
• See our Downloads▼ section to access the product listing for further information on the affected product codes and potential alternatives.

Please note that due to the clinical nature of these alternative products, we advise you to consult your own clinical experts to ensure suitability for your organisations use of these products.

Change:

• The supplier Johnson & Johnson Medical Limited has informed us of a supply issue with its Surgical Sutures products.
• There are 23 product codes affected in total.
• The supply issue is due to supplier manufacturing issues.

Impact:          

• 18 affected product codes are currently suspended and unavailable to order.
• Four affected product codes are currently subject to intermittent supply:
  • FVU009, FVU171, FVU515 and FVU801.
• One affected product code is currently available to order but will be suspended and unavailable to order from 1 December 2023:
  • FVQ135.
• There are potential indirect alternatives for some of the products. These products are available to order through our online catalogue.
• Four affected product codes have indirect alternatives which are currently suspended:
  • FVU091 – indirect alternative FVQ854
  • FVQ135 – indirect alternative FVQ138
  • FVU353 – indirect alternative FVS133
  • FVU353 – indirect alternative FVN005 will be back in stock January 2024.
• Two affected product codes’ indirect alternatives are available whilst stocks last and will then be delisted:
  • FVU009 – indirect alternative FVU280
  • FVP962 – indirect alternative FVU086.
• FVQ138 and FVQ135 are alternatives to each other. FVQ135 is still available and will be suspended and unavailable from 1 December 2023, therefore there will be no alternatives available.
• See our Downloads ▼ section to access the product listing for further information on the affected product codes and potential alternatives.
• The supply issue is anticipated to be resolved by 31 December 2023.

Next Steps:              

• Customers are advised to log into our website to view the product listing for further information on the affected product codes and potential alternatives.
• We will update the ICN when we have further information.
• If you have any further questions, please contact your local NHS Supply Chain Customer Services Advisor.

Please note that due to the clinical nature of these alternative products, we advise you to consult your own clinical experts to ensure suitability for your organisations use of these products.