Pirfenidone: Your brand is changing from Esbriet to Sandoz
From 1 May 2026, your brand of pirfenidone is changing from Esbriet to Pirfenidone Sandoz.
What's changing
Your medicine is changing from the Esbriet brand to Pirfenidone Sandoz. It will look different but it contains the same active ingredient in the same quantity. It is designed to work in your body the same way.
The Sandoz tablets will look different:
- The 267 mg tablets are yellow, oval, rounded on both sides, with 'SD267' stamped on one side.
- the 801 tablets are dark pink, oval, rounded on both sides, with 'SD801' stamped on one side.
Pirfenidone Sandoz is a generic medicine
Medsafe New Zealand has reviewed Pirfenidone Sandoz. Medsafe has found that it meets New Zealand standards of safety, quality, and effectiveness.
Why is this happening?
This is a tender brand change. Every year, Pharmac runs a tender process to create competition among suppliers to supply many medicines used by New Zealanders.
The tender helps Pharmac manage the costs of medicines. Any savings we make are returned to the medicines budget to help pay for new medicines.
Your brand change is helping fund more medicines for more New Zealanders
Information for pharmacists
There will be no OP endorsement for 801 mg Pirfenidone Sandoz due to the reduction in cost for this product. The OP endorsement will remain on Esbriet 801 mg until it is delisted on 1 October 2026.
Key dates
1 May 2026 | Pirfenidone Sandoz 267 mg and 801 mg tablets will be listed
1 October 2026 | Esbriet 267 mg and 801 mg tablets will be delisted
- Pirfenidone Brand change | Pharmac A5 Flyer [PDF 239 KB]
Who to contact
If you have questions about this change, 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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