Pharmac updates 4.9.26
- 2 minutes ago
- 6 min read
We are writing to update you on current issues.
Change of Salt
Coversyl tablets
Supply Issues
Mercaptopurine 50mg tablets (Puri-nethol)
Trusteel Infusion Sets Reminder
Disopyramide phosphate capsule 100mg (Rythmodan - Neon)
Brand Change/ Delisting
Changes to funded Escitalopram 10mg tablets
Reminder of discontinuations5
Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)
Epilim 100mg tab crushable
Enhanced safety feature
1. Clexane injections.
1. Coversyl tablets change of salt: Perindopril erbumine to Perindopril arginine
Due to global alignment and to ensure continuity of supply, Coversyl containing perindopril erbumine will be replaced with Coversyl containing perindopril arginine.
The new Perindopril arginine tablets were listed (funded) from 1 September
Please transition your patients currently on Coversyl 2 mg and 8 mg tablets to the equivalent perindopril arginine (Coversyl 2.5mg and 10mg respectively) from 1 September.
Coversyl 4 mg tablets will remain available longer. Please transition these patients to the equivalent Coversyl 5mg tablets from October.
Pharmacist substitution between erbumine and arginine strengths is not possible due to different labelled strengths.
Perindopril erbumine and perindopril arginine salts are bioequivalent and interchangeable. The active moiety (perindopril) remains unchanged.
Because the two salts have different molecular weights, the labelled tablet strengths will change, while delivering the same amount of active perindopril.
Dose equivalence table
Current product (perindopril erbumine) | To | New product (perindopril arginine) |
1 tablet COVERSYL® 2 mg | 1 tablet COVERSYL® 2.5 mg | |
1 tablet COVERSYL® 4 mg | 1 tablet COVERSYL® 5 mg | |
1 tablet COVERSYL® 8 mg | 1 tablet COVERSYL® 10 mg |
More information, images, and a downloadable patient information leaflet can be found Coversyl on Pharmac website
There is a supply issue affecting mercaptopurine 50mg tablets (Puri-nethol) due to a manufacturing issue.
To ensure continuity of supply, from 10 September 2026, Pharmac will list (fund) an alternate brand, Mercaptopurine (Sterimax). Mercaptopurine (Sterimax) 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.
Pharmac are working with the supplier to understand when Puri-nethol will be available again, currently this is anticipated to be October 2026. Further information will be added to our webpage as updates become available – Mercaptopurine (Puri-Nethol) 50 mg tablet: Supply issue
There is a global supply constraint affecting TruSteel infusion sets (used with the Tandem insulin pumps) due to manufacturing issues. This disruption is likely to continue for the remainder of 2026 and affects all four funded TruSteel infusion set products.Uptake of Autosoft infusion sets remains low despite previous communications encouraging suitable patients to transition. As a result, demand on limited TruSteel stock remains high. There will not be enough TruSteel stock available to support current demand if current usage patterns continue. To make sure there is enough supply for people who cannot transition to an alternate Autosoft product, it is important that patients who can safely and appropriately use an Autosoft infusion set are transitioned as soon as possible. NZSSD have advised that most people currently using TruSteel infusion sets will likely be able to switch to Autosoft infusion sets. Autosoft infusion sets are funded by Pharmac and are compatible with Tandem pumps. NZSSD have provided clinical advice identifying patient groups who they recommended should be prioritised for the limited TruSteel stock. A new prescription will be required for patients to transition to an Autosoft infusion set. Autosoft infusion sets have different insertion and priming requirements from TruSteel products. Patients will need training to learn how to use them correctly. The supplier has information and resources on their website.
Disopyramide phosphate capsule 100mg (Rythmodan – Neon brand) is no longer being supplied.
The current Neon stock has an expiry date of 30 September 2026
An alternative option has been sourced. Rythmodan – Cheplapharm capsule 100mg pack size 100 will be listed (funded) mid cycle from 10 September 2026.
The packaging artwork includes both Japanese and English labelling, with Japanese on one side and English on the other.
The new brand, Rythmodan - Cheplapharm capsule 100mg is not a Medsafe approved product and should be prescribed and supplied in line with Section 29 of the Medicines Act. The current Neon brand is also a Section 29 medicine.
Images of the new product and a downloadable patient information leaflet is available – Rythmodan on Pharmac webpage
1. Changes to funded Escitalopram 10mg tablets
From 1 February 2027, Ipca-Escitalopram 10 mg and 20 mg tablets will be the only funded brands of escitalopram listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule. As a result, the currently listed escitalopram (Ethics) brand of 10 mg tablets will be delisted (no longer funded) from this date.
This change is expected to have limited impact on most patients, as the majority of people currently receiving escitalopram are already taking the Ipca-Escitalopram brand. However, patients receiving the escitalopram (Ethics) brand will need to transition to Ipca-Escitalopram by 1 February 2027.
Named Patient Pharmaceutical Assessment (NPPA) funding for alternate brands.
We recognise that a small number of people may be unable to transition to the funded Ipca-Escitalopram brand for clinical reasons, such as having previously experienced clinically significant issues with the Ipca-Escitalopram brand, or have a known allergy to an excipient in that brand that would make this clinically unsuitable. In these circumstances, prescribers can apply through the Named Patient Pharmaceutical Assessment (NPPA) pathway for funded access to an alternate brand such as escitalopram (Ethics). Applications can be submitted ahead of the delisting date (1 February 2027) to ensure timely assessment and continuity of funded supply for impacted people.
NPPA is currently the appropriate pathway for requesting funded access to an alternate brand. While the NPPA guidance on our webpage may suggest that patients should have trialled all funded alternatives, Pharmac recognises that trialling alternative SSRIs or other antidepressants may not be clinically appropriate in some cases. Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and prescribers should not be discouraged from applying where there is a clinical need for continued access to escitalopram (Ethics).
Further information is available on the NPPA webpage, if prescribers have questions, they can contact the NPPA team directly at nppa@pharmac.govt.nz or phone 0800 660 050 (option 2).
Pharmac are currently reviewing our exceptional circumstances framework, including NPPA and alternate brand funding.
1. Discontinuation Reminder: Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)
The supplier of the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device has notified Pharmac that they will cease supplying it to New Zealand from 1 December 2026. While stock may remain available within the supply chain for a period after this date, Pharmac intends to delist (no longer fund) Dexcom G6 from early 2027.
People currently using funded Dexcom G6 CGMs will need to transition to an alternative funded CGM that is compatible with their insulin pump, either Dexcom G7 or FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus. We encourage affected people to transition to an alternative funded CGM as soon as possible, ahead of 1 December 2026.
Information and support resources are available to help people transition:
Dexcom G7: Upgrade to Dexcom G7|NZMS Dexcom
Freestyle Libre 3 Plus: Welcome to the FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor|Mediray.
Further details about this discontinuation are available on our webpage: Dexcom G6 CGM being retired
2.Discontinuation Reminder: Sodium valproate (Epilim) 100mg crushable tablets
The supplier Sanofi has notified Pharmac of the discontinuation of sodium valproate (Epilim brand) 100mg crushable tablets. This is a global discontinuation. Sanofi expects that stock will be available until the end of November 2026. Please transition affected patients to an alternative treatment as soon as possible. For more information see Epilim discontinuation on Pharmac website
1.Clexane syringe: NEW Clexane Safety Lock ERIS device
A new Clexane Safety Lock ERIS syringe will replace the current Clexane Safety Lock across all Clexane presentations.
The new presentations were listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 September 2026. Transition to the new presentations across the seven strengths is estimated to occur between 1 September 2026 and 5 February 2027.
The ERIS Safety Lock is the globally preferred device for Clexane and offers an enhanced safety feature: an automatically activated safety shield upon needle withdrawal that protects the used needle, reducing needlestick injury risk.
For more information – Clexane Eris on Pharmac website
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If you have any questions regarding these updates, please contact enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz.
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