Nicorandil (Ikorel): Your brand has changed
By early 2024, your pharmacist will change your brand of nicorandil from Ikorel to Max Health.
What's changing
Your brand of nicorandil tablets is changing from Ikorel to Max Health. You may see some slight changes in the tablets and packaging between the brands.
Max Health nicorandil works the same way
The Max Health brand of nicorandil tablets contain the same active ingredient in the same quantities as the Ikorel brand. They will work in your body the same way.
Medsafe has assessed the Max Health brand for safety, effectiveness, and quality. It meets the same standards as the Ikorel brand. It is approved for use in New Zealand.
Max Health Nicorandil Datasheet [PDF] - Medsafe(external link)
Why is this happening?
Pharmac runs an annual tender on many of the medicines we fund. This tender 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 from Sanofi's Ikorel brand of nicorandil to the Max Health brand.
This brand change is helping us fund more medicines for better health outcomes for all New Zealanders.
About the Annual Tender(external link)
Information for pharmacists
The Max Health brand was listed from 1 December 2023. Thank you for counselling people about this brand change.
Supply status for each brand
The Ikorel brand likely ran out during December 2023. Max Health increased their supply of nicorandil to meet demand before principal supply started (1 May 2024).
Brand switch fee available
Pharmacists can claim one brand switch fee for each person. The fee can be claimed at the first dispensing of the new brand after principal supply begins (1 May 2024), even though the brand will have changed earlier.
Resources
A5 Nicorandil brand change flier [PDF, 45 KB]
A4 Nicorandil brand change flier [PDF, 62 KB]
Medicines can look different, it's what's inside that's important [PDF, 403 KB]
Who to contact
If you have any questions about this change, talk to your pharmacist or the person who prescribes your nicorandil. They know you and your clinical history, they can offer you the best advice.
If you have funding questions about this change or other treatments, email enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz