Candesartan (Candestar) all strengths: Supply issue
Due to issues at the manufacturing plant, the supplier has limited supply of all Candestar tablets.
22 June 2026 | Supply update
There is limited supply of all strengths of candesartan. The supplier is receiving small shipments of the alternative brands and releasing them as soon as they can.
Pharmacies may receive less supply than usual.
We appreciate how disruptive supply issues can be. We are working closely with the supplier to improve the availability of candesartan.
Affected product
Due to issues at the manufacturing plant, the supplier has limited stock of all strengths of Candestar.
Schedule listings for candesartan(external link)
Alternative brand listed
Pharmac has listed Candesartan Viatris as an alternative for the 8 mg, 16 mg, and 32 mg strengths. Medsafe has reviewed Candestar Viatris and granted it a labelling exemption, so it can be prescribed and dispensed as an approved medicine.
Same active ingredient, different packaging
This product has the same active ingredient in the same quantity and is designed to work in the body the same way.
Alternative brand for 4 mg Candestar
Candesartan Viatris Sante was listed as an alternative for the 4 mg strength. Medsafe has reviewed the product and granted it a labelling exemption, so it can be prescribed and dispensed as an approved medicine.
- Brand: Candesartan Viatris Sante
- Presentation: tab 4 mg
- Pharmacode: 2725355
- Subsidy: $2.68
- Measure / Qty: per 90
Same active ingredient, different packaging
This product has the same active ingredient in the same quantity and are designed to work in the body the same way.
The box and blister strip will be in French. There will be a French consumer information leaflet (CMI), we ask pharmacies to remove the French CMI. This product is being supplied immediately to ensure people can get their medicine.
In due course, the French blister strips will be supplied in boxes labelled for New Zealand.
The tablets will look different
The French tablets are white to off-white, round, have a "4" stamped on one side, and a break line on the other side.
The current Candestar tablets are white to off-white, round, biconvex tablet, stamped with “M” over “C1” on one side, and plain with a break line on the other side.
Different inactive ingredients
| Candestar inactive ingredients | Candesartan Viatris Sante |
|---|---|
|
|
The bolded ingredients are not present in the other brand.
- Candesartan supply issue Apr 26 [PDF 223 KB]
Expected resupply
We expect Candestar brand candesartan to be available again by the end of 2026.
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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