Emtricitabine with tenofovir disoproxil: Supply issue

Affected product

Viatris, the supplier, advises that there will be a supply issue affecting their brand of emtricitabine with tenofovir disoproxil from October 2024.

It is used for:

• pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV
• post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV
• treatment of HIV infection in combination with other antiretroviral drugs.

Chemical: Emtricitabine with tenofovir disoproxil

• Presentation: Tab tenofovir disoproxil maleate 300 mg + emtricitabine 200 mg
• Brand: Tenofovir Disoproxil Emtricitabine Viatris
• Pharmacode: 2638088 
• Subsidy: $15.45
• Measure / Qty: per 30

Schedule listing for emtricitabine with tenofovir disoproxil(external link)

Alternative product listed

Pharmac has listed an alternative from 1 October 2024. It is should be available for order by early October:

• Brand: Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Disoproxil (Teva)
• Presentation: Tab tenofovir disoproxil 245 mg + emtricitabine 200 mg
• Pharmacode: 2560488

The brand is Medsafe approved. It may be familiar to people as it has been funded before. People take it in the same way.

The Teva product contains a different salt form of tenofovir disoproxil compared to the Viatris product:

• Viatris: tenofovir disoproxil maleate 300 mg + emtricitabine 200 mg
• Teva: tenofovir disoproxil 245 mg + emtricitabine 200 mg

Tenofovir disoproxil 245 mg is equivalent to tenofovir disoproxil maleate 300 mg. The brands are considered clinically equivalent and can be used interchangeably.

A5 flier about this supply issue

Expected resupply

Viatris expect to have their brand of emtricitabine with tenofovir disoproxil available again in January 2025. 

Who to contact

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

Please include as much information as you can about the product (presentation, brand, pharmacode) and who your wholesaler is.  

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