Benzathine benzylpenicillin (Bicillin LA): Supply issue

Supply issue Active

There are delays at the factory where Bicillin LA (Pharmacode: 2258072) is made.

Affected product

Pharmac continues to work closely with Health New Zealand to manage any outage of Bicillin LA. Bicillin LA is used in hospitals, sexual health clinics, and for the rheumatic fever programme. It is a vital antibiotic.

Chemical: Benzathine benzylpenicillin

  • Presentation: Inj 900 mg (1.2 million units) in 2.3 ml syringe
  • Brand: Bicillin LA
  • Pharmacode: 2258072
  • Subsidy: $432.37
  • Measure / Qty: per 10

Alternative product

Benzetacil is funded as an alternative to Bicillin LA. Benzetacil contains the same amount of active ingredient (900 mg benzathine benzylpenicillin (1.2 million units)) as Bicillin LA.

However, it comes as a powder for reconstitution and when reconstituted has a larger liquid volume (4.8ml vs 2.3 ml) than Bicillin LA. As such, we have asked hospitals and sexual health providers to use this alternative and prioritise Bicillin LA for people who need a lower injection volume.

Health New Zealand has identified children 13 and under for access to Bicillin LA. Health New Zealand has developed flyers for patients and advice for health care professionals on how to reconstitute Benzetacil.

Priority access to Bicillin while Benzetacil for wider use | Health NZ guidance(external link)

About Benzetacil

The alternative is listed on the Schedule and HML. Benzetacil is approved by Medsafe and can be prescribed and dispensed as normal, including on standing order and PSO. 

Wholesalers can order Benzetacil from Orspec.

Chemical: Benzathine benzylpenicillin

  • Presentation: Inj 900 mg (1.2 million units) in 2.3 ml syringe
  • Brand: Benzetacil
  • Pharmacode: 2470624
  • Subsidy: $43.24
  • Measure / Qty: per 1

Key differences between Benzetacil and Bicillin LA

Benzetacil contains the same amount of active ingredient (900 mg benzathine benzylpenicillin (1.2 million units)) as Bicillin LA.

Bicillin LA (original brand)

  • comes as a prefilled syringe.
  • has a final volume of 2.4 ml
  • Pharmacode: 2258072

Medsafe datasheet for Bicillin LA [PDF](external link)

Benzetacil (alternative brand)

  • is a powder for injection
  • requires reconstitution
  • has a final volume of 4.8 ml
  • Pharmacode: 2711753

Medsafe datasheet for Benzetacil [PDF](external link)

Please reserve Bicillin LA for children aged 13 and under.

Expected resupply 

A shipment of Bicillin LA is expected in November 2026. A further shipment is expected in April 2027. Health NZ is keeping the current prioritisiation in place until the April 2027 shipment arrives.  

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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