Pharmac updates 25/9/26
Please see below updates from Pharmac.
Supply issue
Fluconazole 150 mg capsule
Sumatriptan 50 mg and 100mg tablets
Sildenafil 25 mg tablets
Ezetimibe with simvastatin (Zimybe) combination tablets (all strengths)
Risperidone 1mg tablets
Brand change
Entecavir 0.5 mg tablets
Discontinuation
Reminder of insulin discontinuations.
Prazosin discontinuation and new brand, all strengths
Digoxin oral liq 50 mcg per ml
1.Supply Issue: Fluconazole 150 mg capsules
There is a supply issue affecting fluconazole 150mg capsules due to issues at the manufacturing site. From 1 October 2026, Pharmac will list (fund) an alternate brand of fluconazole 150mg capsules, APO Health Fluconazole One. This brand is expected to enter the market from 1 October 2026.
The alternate brand, APO Health Fluconazole One, is not currently a Medsafe approved brand and should be prescribed and supplied in line with Section 29/29A of the Medicines Act. We know supplying a medicine under section 29A is not ideal. In this case, however, this will allow patients to continue to access their treatment without interruption.
2.Supply issue: Sumatriptan 50mg and 100mg tablets
Due to an issue at the manufacturing site, there is a supply issue affecting both strengths of sumatriptan (Sumagran) tablets.
To help maintain continuity of supply, Pharmac will fund an alternative brand, Sumatriptan Viatris, from 1 October 2026. Sumatriptan Viatris is not currently approved by Medsafe, it must be prescribed and supplied in accordance with Section 29/29A of the Medicines Act. The supplier, Viatris, is working towards obtaining approval for these products. Further updates will be added to our webpage as information becomes available – Sumatriptan (Sumagran) 50 and 100 mg tabs: Supply issue
Sumatriptan Viatris is expected to enter the market during November 2026, following depletion of existing Sumagran stock.
3. Supply Issue: Sildenafil 25mg tablets (Vedafil).
There is a supply issue affecting Sildenafil 25mg tablets (Vedafil) due to an issue at the manufacturing site.
From 1 October 2026, Pharmac will list (fund) an alternate brand of sildenafil 25mg tablets, Sildenafil (Crescent). This is not a Medsafe approved brand and should be prescribed and supplied in line with Section 29A of the Medicines Act. We know supplying a medicine under section 29A is not ideal. In this case, however, this will allow patients to continue to access their treatment without interruption.
Further information will be added to our webpage as updates become available – Sildenafil (Vedafil) 25 and 50 mg tablets: Supply issue
4. Supply issue: All strengths of ezetimibe with simvastatin (Zimybe) combination tablets
There is a supply issue affecting all strengths of ezetimibe+simvastatin combination tablets due to an issue at the manufacturing site.
Pharmac has previously listed an alternate brand, Vytorin, for the 10 mg/40 mg and 10 mg/80 mg strengths. From 1 October 2026, Pharmac will fund an alternate brand for the 10 mg/10 mg and 10 mg/20 mg strengths, and an additional alternate brand for the 10 mg/40 mg strength. The Vytorin brand for the 10 mg/80 mg strength remains available.
All alternate brands are not Medsafe approved and should be prescribed and supplied in line with Section 29/29A of the Medicines Act.
Alternate Brand details: Ezetimibe with simvastatin 10 mg/10 mg - Vytorin
|
Ezetimibe with simvastatin 10 mg/20 mg - Ezetimibe Simvastatin Viatris
|
Ezetimibe with simvastatin 10 mg/40 mg – Ascend
|
Further information will be added to our webpage as updates become available – Ezetimibe with simvastatin (Zimybe) all strengths: Supply issue
5. Supply issue: Risperidone 1mg tablet (Risperidone Teva)
There is a supply issue affecting risperidone 1mg tablets (Risperidone Teva).
From 1 October 2026, Pharmac will list (fund) an alternate brand Risperidone Sandoz 1mg tablet.
The alternate brand, Risperidone Sandoz is not a Medsafe approved brand and should be prescribed and supplied in line with Section 29A of the Medicines Act. Pharmac has previously funded Risperidone Sandoz 1 mg tablets as a Section 29 brand in 2024-2025.
Pharmac currently funds Section 29 alternative brands for several other strengths of risperidone:
• Risperidone Sandoz 0.5 mg tablets
• Risperidone Sandoz 2 mg tablets
• Risperidone (Relonchem) 3 mg tablets
For further information and updates, please see our webpage – Risperidone tablet: Supply issue
1.Tender brand change: Entecavir 0.5 mg tabletsThe brand of Entecavir 0.5 mg tablets is changing from Entecavir (Rex) to Entecavir Sandoz.
1 October 2026: Entecavir Sandoz listed in the Pharmaceutical Schedule (funded).
1 March 2027: Entecavir Sandoz has PSS.
1 March 2027: Entecavir (Rex) delisted from the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
Some people may be familiar with the Entecavir Sandoz brand, as it was the main funded brand from 2018 to 2024.
Entecavir Sandoz comes in a 30-tablet blister pack, consistent with the incumbent. However, the shape of the tablet is round rather than triangular.
1.Reminder of insulin discontinuations
NovoNordisk are rationalising their product range and discontinuing three insulins from the 3 ml penfill range. Stock of the Penmix 30 penfill 3 ml was depleted in April 2026.
Insulin Type | Brand | Presentation | Date supplier stops selling to wholesalers |
Insulin aspart with insulin aspart protamine | NovoMix30 | FlexPen 3 ml prefilled disposable pen | End of 2026 |
Insulin neutral | Actrapid | Penfill 3 ml | End of 2026 |
Insulin isophane | Protaphane | Penfill 3 ml | End of 2026 |
Please transition patients to a suitable alternative. There is information regarding use of insulin
Eli Lilly has discontinued the 4 insulins below in the 10 ml vial presentation. The 3 ml penfill presentations remain available.
Humalog
Humulin NPH
Humulin 30/70
Humulin R
More information is available on our website Insulin discontinuations on Pharmac website
2.Discontinuation: Prazosin Mylan capsules 1 mg, 2 mg, 5 mg strengths.
New brand: APO-Prazosin tablets 1 mg, 2 mg, 5 mg strengths.
Viatris/ Mylan the supplier has notified that prazosin capsules (section 29) will no longer be supplied to the New Zealand market from the end of October 2026.
APO-Prazosin tablets will be funded from 1 October 2026. The tablets are Medsafe approved.
For more information – Prazosin on Pharmac website
3.Discontinuation: Digoxin oral liq 50 mcg per ml
There is a discontinuation affecting digoxin oral liq 50 mcg per ml (Lanoxin). Pharmac currently funds two Lanoxin oral liquid 50 mcg per ml products: a New Zealand approved product and an Australian Section 29 product. The supplier has advised that the New Zealand approved product will be discontinued due to very low demand and commercial unsustainability.
The Australian Lanoxin oral liquid 50 mcg per ml product will continue to be funded by Pharmac as a Section 29 medicine. Remaining stock of the New Zealand approved product is expected to be depleted October 2026.
Once the New Zealand approved product is no longer available, the Australian Section 29 product will be the only funded Lanoxin oral liquid available. As a Section 29 medicine, it must be prescribed and supplied in accordance with Section 29 of the Medicines Act.
Lanoxin tablets are unaffected by this change and will continue to be funded and supplied as normal.
Ngā mihi,
Pharmac Implementation team
Pharmac | Te Pātaka Whaioranga | PO Box 10 254 | Level 9, 40 Mercer Street, Wellington
P: 0800 660 050 | www.pharmac.govt.nz
