BD pen needles and insulin syringes transitioning to new embecta packaging

Healthcare professionals prescribing and dispensing injection devices for people living with diabetes will soon notice a brand update as embecta transitions away from the BD name.

Since spinning off from Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) in 2022, embecta has been selling insulin syringes and pen needles under the BD brand. Soon, these products – the very same quality products that healthcare providers and their patients living with diabetes have counted on for years – will be transitioned to new embecta packaging.

What does this mean for prescribers?

• Most PIP codes will remain the same, so the impact on prescribing and supply is minimal. The only exception is the 8mm Microfine needle, which will carry a new code, and prescribers will need to note this when writing prescriptions – “BD Microfine” should now be written simply as “Microfine” under the embecta brand.
• To support a seamless transition, all prescribing systems will be updated via the NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d). This ensures electronic prescribing platforms are aligned with the change to branding.
• Local formularies will also need to be amended. While this is a straightforward edit, Medicines Management teams should be informed to ensure continuity of supply and prescribing accuracy.

What does this mean for people living with diabetes?

For those living with diabetes, the change is largely invisible. They will continue to receive the same trusted injection devices, with the same product and quality they rely on. Clear communication will be key and embecta is working closely with healthcare professionals to reassure individuals and answer any questions during the transition.

“The manufacturing process and the materials used in these syringes and pen needles have not changed; they are made in the same facilities and undergo the same quality control procedures at embecta as they did under BD,” said Antony Wallace, Country General Manager. “It’s just a new look, but the same products you know and trust.”

The exact date when “BD” should be omitted from prescriptions will be confirmed soon. Until then, prescribers and pharmacists can begin preparing for the switch, confident that the care they provide to people living with diabetes remains uninterrupted.

This update represents the final step in embecta’s move to fully establish its independent identity while maintaining its longstanding commitment to innovation and quality in diabetes care.