API Consumer Brands

Medicine update Active

API Consumer Brands has closed its Auckland manufacturing plant and withdrawn from the New Zealand pharmaceutical market.

API in New Zealand

In July 2021, API notified the Australian Stock Exchange(external link) that they had decided to focus on their retail and distribution businesses.

What is Pharmac doing

Sponsorship of the API products has largely been transferred to Noumed Pharmaceuticals limited and will continue to be supplied until a new brand enters the market. Noumed began supplying these products on 18 July 2022. 

Affected products

Products we've found a solution for

The "listing date" is the first day the new brand will be funded. The "principal supply date" is the date that the old brand will no longer be available. 

Chemical Presentation New brand Supplier Listing date Principal supply date
Bisacodyl Tab 5 mg  Bisacodyl Viatris
May 22 Tender Notice
Viatris 1 August 2022 1 January 2023
Codeine phosphate Tab 15 mg Noumed
November 22 Tender Notice
Noumed 1 December 2022 1 May 2023
Codeine phosphate Tab 30 mg Noumed
September 22 Tender Notice
Noumed 1 November 2022 1 April 2023
Codeine phosphate Tab 60 mg Noumed
September 22 Tender Notice
Noumed 1 November 2022 1 April 2023
Citalopram hydrobromide Tab 20 mg Celapram 
March 22 Tender Notice
Viatris 1 October 2022 1 March 2023
Dexamfetamine Tab 5 mg

Noumed
December 23 Tender Notice

Noumed 1 January 2024 1 June 2024
Domperidone Tab 10 mg

Domperidone Viatris
July 2022 Tender notice

Viatris 1 February 2023 1 July 2023
Fluoride Tab 1.1 mg (0.5 mg elemental) None - Delisted 1 March 2023      
Glycerol Suppos 3.6 g Lax-Suppositories Glycerol
April 2022 Tender
AFT 1 September 2022 1 February 2023
Hydrocortisone Crm 1% (30 g OP tube) Ethics
April 2022 Tender
Multichem 1 November 2022 1 April 2023
Hydrocortisone Crm 1% (500 g) Noumed
January 2023 Tender
Noumed 1 March 2023 1 August 2023
Methadone hydrochloride Tab 5 mg Methadone BNM 
March 22 Tender Notice
Boucher and Muir 1 September 2022 1 February 2023
Oxytocin with ergometrine Inj 5 IU with ergometrine maleate 500 mcg per ml, 1ml; 5 ampoule pack Syntometrine 
May 22 Tender Notice
Max Health 1 July 2022 1 December 2022 
Paracetamol Oral liq 120 mg per 5 ml; 200 ml bottle Paracetamol (Ethics)
May 22 Tender Notice.
Multichem NZ 1 January 2023  1 June 2023 
Paracetamol Oral liq 250 mg per 5 ml; 200 ml bottle Pamol
May 22 Tender Notice
Aspen Pharma  1 November 2022  1 April 2023 
Phenobarbitone Tab 30 mg Noumed Phenobarbitone
May 22 Tender Notice
Noumed 1 July 2023 1 December 2023
Phenobarbitone Tab 15 mg Noumed Phenobarbitone
January 24 Tender Notice
Noumed 1 March 2024 1 August 2024
Pethidine hydrochloride Tab 50 mg Noumed Pethidine
January 2023 Tender Notice
Noumed 1 March 2023 1 August 2023
Prochlorperazine Tab 3 mg buccal Not contracted. Max Health has taken over supply Max Health n/a n/a
Sodium fluoride Tab 1.1 mg (0.5 mg elemental) None - Delisted 1 March 2023      


Products we're still working on

Chemical Presentation Brand Pharmacode
Isoniazid * Tab 100 mg PSM 267473
Permethrin *
We have not found a replacement, but the Scabies-A lotion is available
Crm 5% Lyderm 479233

 * Noumed Pharmaceuticals is the sponsor until the new supplier takes over.

Who to contact

If you have questions about this issue, email enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz