Bicalutamide (Binarex) 50 mg tablets: Supply issue resolved
The supplier of bicalutamide (Binarex) 50 mg tablets, Rex Medical has advised that this medicine is now available and in stock.
On this page
Bicalutamide (Binarex) 50 mg tablets are back in New Zealand
Rex Medical has advised that this medicine is now available and in stock.
If you have questions about supply, contact your wholesaler or email the supplier at admin@rexmed.co.nz.
Alternative brand listed 8 January 2021
Rex Medical has sourced an alternative product to ensure people can continue to access bicalutamide 50 mg tablets.
The alternative brand Calutide-50 is:
- supplied by Rex Medical
- the same formulation, active ingredient, and manufacturer as the currently listed product
- listed from 8 January 2021
- not approved by Medsafe (to be supplied under section 29 of the Medicines Act)
- on monthly (non-stat) dispensing
Information about these bicalutamide tab 50 mg
- Brand Name: Calutide-50
- Pharmacode: 2603616
- Active Ingredient: Bicalutamide
- Presentation: 50mg
- Pack size: 10 tablets per pack
- Packaging type: Blister pack
For health professionals
Bicalutamide tab 50 mg (Calutide-50) is available in a 10 tablets per pack presentation. This differs from Binarex, which was packaged in a 28 or 30 pack.
Bicalutamide tab 50 mg (Calutide-50) is not approved by Medsafe. It needs to be supplied in line with section 29 of the Medicines Act 1981. Only medical practitioners registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand can prescribe section 29 medicines.
What section 29 means
Section 29 of the Medicines Act allows for medicines that are not Medsafe approved to be supplied to people. The medicine must be prescribed by someone registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand – e.g., doctors.
We know supplying a medicine under section 29 is not ideal. In this case, however, the alternative would be for patients to have no bicalutamide.
We apologise for any inconvenience this causes.
Read more about supplying medicines under section 29 – Medsafe website(external link)
Information for your patients about what section 29 means – Health Navigator website(external link)
Information for pharmacists
Rule 5.5 has been removed. If you have any Binarex stock, it can be dispensed in monthly lots (non-stat).
Dispensing software
RxOne users: the new listing will be automatically updated by RxOne. If for some unforeseen circumstance it does not happen, please refer to the e-Noticeboard on the RxOne Home Screen for instructions.
TONIQ users: the new listing will automatically be updated in Toniq medicine databases from the effective date.
Claiming the subsidy
Ministry of Health Sector Operations Group will be unable to process claims for January 2021 dispensing of the above listing. Pharmacies can:
- hold these claims until February 2021, or
- reclaim them in February 2021 after they are rejected for payment in January 2021 claims.