Raloxifene (Evista): Discontinuation

Affected product

Raloxifene is funded for people who meet the funding criteria. Eli Lilly, who supply this product, has decided to stop supplying it to a number of countries, including New Zealand. A little over 100 people take raloxifene each year.

• Chemical: Raloxifene hydrochloride
• Brand: Evista
• Pharmacode: 237523
• Subsidy: $53.76
• Measure / Qty: per 28

Schedule listing for raloxifene(external link)

Funding criteria listed in the Special Authority [PDF](external link)

People who take raloxifene (Evista)

The supplier has decided to stop supplying your medicine to New Zealand. You will need to change to a different treatment. We're sorry, we know changing treatments is not ideal. 

You will need to talk to the person who prescribed your Evista. They are in the best place to advise on what options are available to you.

We recommend you talk to your prescriber as soon as possible but before December 2025, when supply of raloxifene is likely to run out. 

People who prescribe raloxifene (Evista)

Thank you for supporting people through these changes. We appreciate the additional time and effort needed to support people when there is a change of treatment. 

We have received clinical advice that the following may be suitable treatments.

For osteoporosis:

alendronate | NZ Formulary monograph(external link)

risedronate | NZ Formulary monograph(external link)

zoledronic acid | NZ Formulary monograph(external link)

denosumab | NZ Formulary monograph(external link)

teriparatide | NZ Formulary monograph(external link)

For risk of breast cancer

tamoxifen | NZ Formulary monograph(external link)

Pharmacists who dispense raloxifene

We ask that you counsel people who are dispensed raloxifene to talk to their prescriber about changing treatment. Thank you for your support during this change.

We do not yet have a delisting date for ralofexene (Evista) tablets (Pharmacode: 237523). We anticipate we will delist in the first quarter of 2026. 

Supply is expected to run out in December 2025.

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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