Pharmac Update for Primary Care Subscribers
- admin82291
- Sep 22
- 4 min read
Pharmac Update: Primary Care Prescribers | 19 September 2025
Below is the latest information on Pharmac consultations, notifications, and supply issues for Primary Care Prescribers for week 19 September 2025. It includes information on:
New updates:
Proposal to fund a new brand of methylphenidate for ADHD
Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to fund a new modified-release brand of methylphenidate - Methylphenidate Sandoz XR - to help ease ongoing supply issues and provide more treatment options for people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
If approved, this brand would be funded from 1 December 2025.
We welcome your feedback. Consultation is open until 5 pm, Wednesday 1 October 2025.
Please send your feedback to consult@pharmac.govt.nz or use the online form linked in the consultation.
Access Widened: COVID-19 antivirals nirmatrelvir with ritonavir tablets (Paxlovid) and remdesivir injection (Veklury)
From 1 September 2025 the access criteria has been widened for COVID-19 antivirals nirmatrelvir with ritonavir tablets (Paxlovid) and remdesivir injection (Veklury). (Veklury is used in Hospital only.) The new addition to the eligibility criteria allows access for people who are 50 years and over and considered by their healthcare professional to be at high risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 infection. Other access criteria remain the same.
Additional information about the criteria change can be found on our Pharmac webpage Covid-19 antivirals
BPAC has developed guidance to support health care professionals to assess whether someone is at high risk of hospitalisation or death from COVID-19, this can be found on their website - BPACNZ | Access criteria for COVID-19 antivirals: Determine priority by need(external link)
Supply issue update: mesalazine 400 tablet (Asacol)
Mesalazine 400 mg (Asacol) has been out of stock. An alternative brand mesalazine 400mg (Octasa) will be listed on the Schedule from 1 October 2025 and is expected to arrive early October. This is not a Medsafe approved product and will be supplied under Section 29 of the Medicines Act.
Supply issue: podophyllotoxin (Condyline) solution 0.5%
There has been a delay with a recent shipment of Condyline. There is an anticipated out-of-stock period from October 2025 to January 2026.
AFT has secured supply of an alternative Condyline product from the French market. This is the same product produced at the same manufacturer as the New Zealand Condyline. To make the French pack suitable the main panel on the box will be over labelled with English language and an English language Consumer Medicine Information Leaflet will be provided.
The alternative product will be listed on the Schedule from 1 October 2025. It is not a Medsafe approved medicine and will be supplied under Section 29 of the Medicines Act.
Supply Issue: zinc sulphate (Zincaps) Capsules 50mg
Due to difficulty sourcing the active ingredient, the delivery of Zincaps into NZ will be delayed until December 2025. We have secured Australian stock to partially cover the out-of-stock period. Apart from the carton, the rest of the product/pack size/blister/capsules are identical as it comes from the same manufacturer.
The Australian registered Zincaps will be listed on the Schedule from 1 October 2025. This is not Medsafe approved and will be supplied as a Section 29 medicine.
Supply issue: oxycodone hydrochloride (Oxycodone Amneal) tab immediate release
Pharmac has been advised the next delivery of oxycodone hydrochloride (Oxycodone Amneal) tab immediate release 5mg, 10mg and 20mg has been delayed and will now arrive later in September.
Oxycodone Tab immediate release 5mg: Supplier out of stock
Oxycodone Tab immediate release 10mg & immediate release 20mg: Stock is available.
Oxycodone 5mg/5ml oral liquid: Stock is available.
Brand Change: nortriptyline tablets 10mg & 25mg tablets from Norpress (Viatris) to Allegron (Arrotex)
Viatris, the supplier of Norpress tablets, has advised Pharmac that it is discontinuing both strengths of nortriptyline hydrochloride. It is estimated that Norpress stock will run out in October 2025. The Allegron brand was listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 August 2025.
Discontinuation: dipyridamole tab long-acting 150 mg (Pytazen SR) and temporary alternative listed: Dipyridamole 200 mg Prolonged Release Capsule (Dipyridamole – Strides)
Douglas, the supplier of dipyridamole tab long-acting 150 mg (Pytazen SR), has advised of the discontinuation of this product.
Pharmac has secured temporary supply of Dipyridamole 200 mg Prolonged Release Capsules (Dipyridamole - Strides). This is a Section 29 medicine and was listed from 1 September 2025.
Access to this alternative is limited to existing patients, to allow more time for people to move to a new treatment. New patients will not be able to start on dipyridamole. Pytazen is being discontinued globally.
Funding Discontinuation: ferrous sulfate (Ferrograd) tab long-acting 325 mg
Viatris has notified Pharmac that it is no longer supplying Ferrograd. Stock of funded ferrous sulfate (Ferrograd) tab long-acting 325 mg is expected to be exhausted this month.
Our clinical advisors have told us that ferrous fumarate tablets (Ferro-tab) would meet the needs of the majority of people currently receiving Ferrograd. Please transition the people you are treating as soon as possible.
Note these tablets contain different levels of elemental iron and have different release characteristics. See NZF for clinical guidance on the prescribing of oral iron.
Pharmac is seeking to understand if there are individuals or groups of people for whom ferrous fumarate may not be appropriate. We would welcome any feedback. Email consult@pharmac.govt.nz
Resolved Supply Issues:
Supply issues are marked as resolved when stock arrives in the country and is released to wholesalers. After this, it can take another 1-2 weeks for pharmacies to receive stock, depending on where they are located around New Zealand.
Fexofenadine hydrochloride (Fexaclear) Tab 120mg
