Goserelin: Zoladex is your new brand
Between 1 November 2023 and 1 April 2024, your pharmacist will have changed your brand of goserelin injections from Teva-Goserelin to Zoladex.
What's changing?
The funded brand of goserelin injections changed from Teva-Goserelin to Zoladex. The packaging changed, but the active ingredient is the same.
Zoladex is given at the same frequency as Goserelin-Teva.
Key dates
You might be changed to your new brand any time between 1 November 2023 and 1 April 2024.
From 1 November 2023 – Zoladex became fully funded
From 1 April 2024 – only Zoladex is funded. Teva-Goserelin no longer funded.
If you want to stay on your current brand of goserelin, you can ask your pharmacist to check its price and availability. Pharmac cannot guarantee the availability or price of Goserelin-Teva after 1 April 2024.
Zoladex has the same active ingredient and has previously been supplied
You might be familiar with the Zoladex brand of goserelin. Zoladex was previously supplied to the market as the funded brand of goserelin from 1994 to May 2021.
Zoladex is Medsafe approved
Zoladex has been assessed by Medsafe to ensure its safety, effectiveness, and quality. It is approved for use in New Zealand.
Zoladex and Teva-Goserelin have the same active ingredient and work in the same way.
ZOLADEX® 10.8 mg Depot Injection Datasheet [PDF] - Medsafe(external link)
ZOLADEX® 3.6 mg Depot Injection Datasheet [PDF] - Medsafe(external link)
Why did this happen?
Pharmac runs an annual tender which gives suppliers an opportunity to offer already funded products for better, more competitive prices.
The savings we make through the tender process frees up money so we can fund new treatments for people.
Following a recent tender, we made the decision to change to the funded brand of goserelin injections.
This brand change is helping us fund more medicines for better health outcomes for all New Zealanders.
Information for people using goserelin
Healthify has developed patient information for health professionals to share with people as they change brand of goserelin.
For more information about goserelin, visit www.healthify.nz/goserelin(external link)
What is goserelin and what does it treat
Goserelin reduces levels of the sex hormones testosterone and oestrogen. It is given as an injection under your skin on your stomach. It is from a group of anti-hormonal medicines called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues.
In men, GnRH analogues reduce levels of the male hormone, testosterone, and in women they reduce the level of the female hormone, oestrogen.
GnRH analogues are used to treat many conditions, including:
- prostate cancer
- breast cancer
- endometriosis
- uterine fibroids
- fertility treatment
While not an approved indication, they are also used for gender affirmation treatment.
Who to contact
If you have any questions or concerns about this change, talk to your pharmacist or the person who prescribes your goserelin. They know you and your clinical history and can offer you the best advice.
If you have questions about change in funding for goserelin or the annual Tender process, please email enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz