Ipratropium bromide nebules (Nebuliser soln, 250 mcg per ml, 2 ml ampoule): Supply issue
Univent ipratropium bromide nebulisers (Pharmacode: 2154307) are no longer available.
27 March 2026 | Viatris new brand of nebuliser
From 1 April 2026, the Viatris brand of ipratropium nebule will be funded. The current Accord brand is likely to run out in May 2026. The original Univent brand will not be coming back to New Zealand.
Affected product
Rex Medical, the supplier, ran out of the following product in June 2025 and has not been able to secure anymore stock.
Chemical: Ipratropium bromide
- Presentation: Nebuliser soln, 250 mcg per ml, 2 ml ampoule
- Brand: Univent
- Pharmacode: 2154307
- Subsidy: $11.73
- Measure / Qty: per 20
A small amount of this Medsafe-registered product has been reserved for use in ambulances.
Schedule listing for the nebulisers(external link)
Viatris Ipratropium: Funded 1 April 2026
Funded from 1 April 2026, the Viatris brand will be available once the Accord brand nebules have run out, which is likely to be May 2026. This product is not Medsafe-approved.
While not approved for use in New Zealand, this product is approved for use in France.
About Viatris Ipratropium
The strength is the same as Accord and Univent. However, the Viatris brand has the strength written as “0,5 mg/2 ml” where the Univent and Accord brands say, “250 mcg/1 ml, 2ml”. This is two different ways of writing the same strength.
The label is written in French and English. The supplier's contact details are for their French branch. Viatris New Zealand can be contacted online or by phone
Viatris New Zealand contact details(external link)
Accord product
We listed an alternative from 1 June 2025. Stock of this product is expected to run out during May 2026. The alternative is not Medsafe registered.
- Brand: Accord
- Pharmacode: 2643154
- Pack size: per 20
- Subsidy: $11.73
Prescribing and supplying an unapproved medicine
Section 29A of the Medicines Act 1981 allows for medicines that are not Medsafe approved to be prescribed and supplied to people by any prescriber working in their scope of practice. Prescribers and pharmacists still need to meet their responsibilities under the Act for prescribing and dispensing an unapproved medicine.
Medsafe includes some information about when an unapproved medicine can be dispensed on PSO.
We know supplying a medicine under section 29A is not ideal. In this case, however, this will allow people to access an appropriate treatment.
We apologise for any inconvenience this causes.
Prescriber and pharmacist requirements for section 29 medicines – Medsafe website(external link)
What patients need to know about unapproved medicines – Healthify website(external link)
- Patient flyer for Viatris Ipratropium A5 Mar 26 [PDF 152 KB]
Univent not returning to New Zealand
Rex Medical, the supplier, can no longer supply the Univent brand to New Zealand. Pharmac is working to secure a permanent alternative.
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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