Candesartan (Candestar) 4 mg tablets: Supply issue

Supply issue Active

Due to delays at the manufacturing plant, there is limited supply of Candestar 4 mg tablets (Pharmacode: 2380404).

Affected product

Due to delays at the manufacturing plant, the supplier has limited stock of the following product:

Chemical: Candesartan cilexetil

  • Presentation: Tab 4 mg
  • Brand: Candestar
  • Pharmacode: 2380404
  • Subsidy: $2.68
  • Measure / Qty: per 90

Stock of the other strengths of Candestar remain available.

Schedule listings for candesartan(external link)

Alternative brand listed 

Box has yellow orange highlights and French text. The blister strip has black, French text. There's a red block with text saying to follow the prescribed dose (in French)..
Candesartan Viatris Sante 4 mg French packaging

We listed an alternative brand from 1 April 2026. It is available to order from the supplier. 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
  • Lactose monohydrate 
  • Mannitol 
  • Carmellose calcium 
  • Hydroxypropyl cellulose 
  • Magnesium stearate 
  • Lactose monohydrate 
  • Maize starch 
  • Hydroxypropyl cellulose 
  • Carmellose calcium 
  • Macrogol 
  • Magnesium stearate 

The bolded ingredients are not present in the other brand.

Expected resupply

We are working closely with the supplier to understand when this product will be available again.

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.

Sign up to our email list for regular emails about supply issues and more(external link)