Pharmac upcoming changes

We wish to inform you of several upcoming changes:

Supply issues:

1. rosuvastatin (Rosuvastatin Viatris all strengths)

2. ursodeoxycholic acid caps 250mg (Ursosan)

3. temozolomide 5mg capsules (Temaccord).

4. promethazine hydrochloride injection 25 mg per ml, 2 ml ampoule (Hospira)

Change to dispensing frequency and stock available:

1. perindopril (Coversyl) all strengths

2. progesterone (Utrogestan) 100 mg capsule

3. Ultraproct Ointment

4. Dexamfetamine sulfate Tab 5 mg (Noumed)

Discontinuation:

1. Insulin products   

Supply issues:

1. Supply Issue - rosuvastatin tablets (Rosuvastatin Viatris all strengths).

There is a supply issue affecting Rosuvastatin Viatris tablets across all strengths.

In April 2026, Pharmac listed an alternate product for all strengths: Rosuvastatin Sandoz. This is still listed on the Schedule; however, stock is now limited. To ensure continuity of supply, from 1 July 2026, Pharmac will list (fund) an alternative product for all strengths: Rosuvastatin Mylan.

Viatris will continue to supply the Mylan brand until the Viatris brand is available again, this is anticipated for September 2026. We will update our webpage as information becomes available - Rosuvastatin (all strengths): Supply issue

2.Supply issue: ursodeoxycholic acid caps 250mg (Ursosan)

• BNM the supplier has notified Pharmac that due to delays there will potentially be a shortage of Ursosan cap 250mg

• An alternate Section 29A product APO-Ursodeoxycholic Acid Cap 250 mg will be listed (funded) and available 1 July.

• This medicine is not Medsafe approved and will need to be supplied in line with Section 29A of the Medicines Act.

• The capsules are similar in appearance to the Ursosan brand - white hard gelatine capsules.

• For more information Ursosan on Pharmac website

3. Supply Issue: temozolomide 5mg capsules (Temaccord).

There is a supply issue affecting temozolomide 5mg capsules (Temaccord).

To ensure continuity of supply, from 1 July 2026, Pharmac will list (fund) an alternate product Temozolomide (Devatis). Temozolomide (Devatis) has not been approved by Medsafe and should be prescribed and prescribed in line with Section 29A of the Medicines Act.

Temaccord, is expected to be available again late-July.

4. Supply Issue: promethazine hydrochloride injection 25 mg per ml, 2 ml ampoule (Hospira)

There is a supply issue affecting promethazine hydrochloride inj 25 mg per ml, 2 ml ampoule due to short-dated product in the market.  All Hospira promethazine hydrochloride inj 25 mg per ml, 2 ml ampoules are due to expire end of August 2026.

To ensure continuity of supply, from 1 July, Pharmac has listed an alternate brand XGen promethazine hydrochloride inj 25 mg per ml, 1 ml ampoule. The Hospira Medsafe approved brand is not expected to be available in New Zealand until early November 2026.

Key information about the XGen promethazine hydrochloride inj:

• The XGen product has not been approved by Medsafe and must be supplied in accordance with Section 29A of the Medicines Act. This has implications for supply on PSO – see Medsafe’s website.

• The XGen product, comes as a 1ml ampoule. The concentration is the same 25 mg per ml.

• Note: different diluent requirements, post‑dilution storage conditions, IV administration instructions, compared with the current Hospira product.

Change to dispensing frequency and stock available:

1. Change to dispensing frequency: perindopril (Coversyl) all strengths

As a result of an upcoming change, these products are moving to monthly dispensing from 1 July 2026.

2.  Return to 3-months stat: Progesterone (Utrogestan) 100 mg capsule

The supplier once again has sufficient stock of progesterone (Utrogestan) 100 mg capsule. This will return to 3-monthly dispensing from 1 July 2026.

3. Stock available: fluocortolone caproate with fluocortolone pivalate and cinchocaine (Ultraproct) OintmentUltraproct Ointment is now available again. There had been a long out of stock period due to a change in manufacturing site.

4. Stock available: Dexamfetamine sulfate Tab 5 mg (Noumed)

This gluten-free brand is now available again following a supply outage.

Discontinuation:

1.Discontinuation: Insulin products  

Insulin Type	Brand	Presentation	Date Supplier stops selling
Insulin lispro	Humalog	Inj 100 u per ml, 10 ml vial	End July 2026
Insulin isophane	Humulin NPH	Inj human 100 u per ml, 10 ml vial	End August 2026
Insulin isophane with insulin neutral	Humulin 30/70	Inj human with neutral insulin 100 u per ml, 10 ml vial	End June 2026

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If you have any questions regarding these updates, please contact enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz.

Nga mihi,

Pharmac Implementation Team 

Pharmac | Te Pātaka Whaioranga

PO Box 10-254, Wellington 6140 | Level 9, 40 Mercer Street, Wellington 6011

P: 0800 660 050 | www.pharmac.govt.nz