Octreotide 50, 100 and 500 mcg per ml ampoules: Supply issue

Supply issue Active

There is a supply issue affecting 50 mcg/ml ampoules (Pharmacode 2629534).

1 May 2025 | Update

Stock of the registered brand of 100 and 500 mcg per ml ampoules is now available. Stock of a section 29 alternative will continue to be supplied of the 50 mcg.

Affected products

The supplier for octreotide injection (Max Health) advised it is facing increasing difficulty sourcing octreotide. Stock of the 50 mcg per ml ampoule remains unavailable. There was an issue affecting the 100 and 500 mcg per ml ampoules, but these have been resupplied. 

Chemical Presentation Brand Pharmacode Subsidy Measure/Qty
Octreotide inj 50 mcg per ml, 1 ml ampoule Max Health 2629534 $27.58 per 5

Schedule listing for octreotide(external link)

Alternative product

Max Health sourced alternatives and they were listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule. They are not Medsafe approved, meaning they need to be prescribed and dispensed in line with section 29 of the Medicines Act. The Omega brand comes in a vial, not an ampoule.

Chemical Presentation Brand Pharmacode Subsidy Measure/Qty
Octreotide Inj 50 mcg per ml, 1 ml vial Omega 2695375 $27.58 per 5
Octreotide Inj 50 mcg per ml, 1 ml amp Octreotide GH 2595907 $27.58 per 5
Octreotide Inj 100 mcg per ml, 1 ml vial Omega 2687275 $48.50 per 5
Octreotide Inj 500 mcg per ml, 1 ml vial Omega 2694433 $113.10 per 5

Expected resupply

Pharmac is working closely with Max Health to ensure this treatment remains available to New Zealanders.

The 100 mcg (Pharmacode: 2629518) and 500 mcg (Pharmacode: 2629526) ampoules were resupplied in April 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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