CORRECTION to January 2026 Tender notification

Correction to January 2026 Tender Notification

Correction to current pack price for colchicine tab 500 mcg.

Corrections in red and strikethrough below.

Correction to January 2026 Tender Notification [PDF, XX KB]

Correction to January 2026 Tender Notification [PDF 525 KB]

What we’re doing

Pharmac is announcing recent decisions from its Annual Invitation to Tender (ITT) process. This notification includes:

details about the decision to brand change colchicine tab 500 mcg and a summary of the consultation feedback received following the consultation on the 2024/25 ITT
details about decisions on medicines included in the 2025/26 ITT

You can see the full technical details of the tender decisions in the Tender Results section.

The table below provides a summary of the outcomes for the remaining unresolved medicines included in the May 2025 and July 2025 additional brand change consultations.

Medicine	What medicine is used for	Outcome
Bortezomib inj 3.5 mg	Used to treat multiple myeloma.	Brand change and widening of access.
Calcitriol cap 0.25 mcg	A form of vitamin D, used for people with severe kidney disease to lower their parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels.	Still under consideration.
Calcitriol cap 0.5 mcg		Still under consideration.
Calcium gluconate Inj 10%	Used to treat acute hypocalcaemia; hypocalcaemic tetany; hyperkalaemia with secondary cardiac toxicity; and hypermagnesaemia.	Still under consideration.
Carmustine inj 100 mg vial	Used to treat multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and brain tumours	Still under consideration.
Colchicine tab 500 mcg	Used to treat and prevent gout attacks and other inflammatory conditions.	Brand change.
Iron (as Ferric Carboxymaltose) inj 50 mg per ml, 10 ml vial	An iron infusion used to treat iron-deficiency or anemia.	Still under consideration.
Ivermectin tab 3 mg	Used to treat certain types of parasite infections, and for scabies when other treatments have not worked well.	Still under consideration.
Methenamine (hexamine) Hippurate tab 1 g	Used to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs).	Still under consideration.
Nilotinib cap 150 mg	Used to treat newly diagnosed chronic phase Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia, chronic or accelerated phase Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia resistant or intolerant to previous therapy.	Still under consideration.
Nilotinib cap 200 mg		Still under consideration.
Raltegravir potassium tab 600 mg	Used for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in combination with other antiretroviral drugs.	Still under consideration.
Sunscreens, propriety SPF 50+ or greater	Used to help protect your skin from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) light when outdoors.	Still under consideration.
Teriparatide inj 250 mcg per ml	Used to treat osteoporosis (bone loss).	Still under consideration
Water for injection purified for inj, 500 ml bag	Used to dissolve or dilute medicines which may then be injected. It can also be used for washing and cleaning purposes during minor surgical procedures, and to clean wounds.	Still under consideration.
Xylometazoline nasal spray 0.1%	Used to help nasal congestion.	Still under consideration.

Why we’re doing this

Pharmac’s annual tender process allows suppliers to bid to be the main supplier of off-patent medicines. This year’s tender is expected to free up between $30 million and $50 million, which will be reinvested into funding new treatments.

Following feedback from previous brand changes, Pharmac introduced a new consultation step to better engage with stakeholders. In response, we received feedback on the items included in the 2024/25 ITT, which helped shape our decisions.

Colchicine tab brand change and pack type change

Colchicine was included in Pharmac’s 2024/25 Annual Invitation to Tender, with a preference for blister packaging following advice received that blister packs may reduce the risk of overdose.

Following this tender process, the decision has been made to award Principal Supply Status to the Colchicine Indoco brand of colchicine from 1 July 2026. The pack type of colchicine tab is also changing from a bottle pack to a blister pack from 1 July 2026. A Brand Switch Fee will be applied from 1 December 2026 until 1 March 2027.

What you told us

In addition to the themes identified in the July 2025 Tender Notification II, the table below outlines the themes identified in the feedback received for colchicine.

Theme	Pharmac Comment
Colchicine
Advocated for colchicine to be tendered with blister packaging to reduce the number of colchicine overdoses.	Colchicine tab 500 mcg is currently funded and supplied in a bottle pack. We acknowledge that a blister pack can support the safe use of colchicine. This decision will result in a change from a funded bottle pack to a blister pack. Our Tender Clinical Advisory Committee (TCAC) considered the Indoco Colchicine brand to be suitable to be the main funded brand of colchicine in New Zealand. We have engaged with stakeholder groups regarding the change to blister packaging, and their feedback has played an important role in shaping this decision and guiding subsequent implementation activities to support a brand change. We know that some people may have difficulty opening blister packaging. We encourage these people to speak to their healthcare professional.
Differences in formulation and excipients can affect medicine safety, tolerability, and efficacy, which is especially critical for medicines with a narrow therapeutic index	We acknowledge and appreciate the concerns raised regarding the potential impact of a brand change on tolerability, efficacy, and side effects, particularly for medicines with a narrow therapeutic index. As part of our tender process, all medicines must be Medsafe‑approved. Colchicine Indoco is Medsafe approved and meets internationally recognised standards for safety, quality, and efficacy. Colchicine Indoco contains the same excipients as the currently funded brand, Colgout, except for containing a different form of starch as the tablet binder. This starch is gluten‑free, as is the incumbent brand. The 5% Alternative Brand Allowance allows patients to apply for funded access to a different brand if their prescriber considers the funded brand would be clinically unsuitable for their needs.

Theme

Pharmac Comment

Colchicine

Advocated for colchicine to be tendered with blister packaging to reduce the number of colchicine overdoses.

Colchicine tab 500 mcg is currently funded and supplied in a bottle pack. We acknowledge that a blister pack can support the safe use of colchicine. This decision will result in a change from a funded bottle pack to a blister pack.

Our Tender Clinical Advisory Committee (TCAC) considered the Indoco Colchicine brand to be suitable to be the main funded brand of colchicine in New Zealand.

We have engaged with stakeholder groups regarding the change to blister packaging, and their feedback has played an important role in shaping this decision and guiding subsequent implementation activities to support a brand change.

We know that some people may have difficulty opening blister packaging. We encourage these people to speak to their healthcare professional.

Differences in formulation and excipients can affect medicine safety, tolerability, and efficacy, which is especially critical for medicines with a narrow therapeutic index

We acknowledge and appreciate the concerns raised regarding the potential impact of a brand change on tolerability, efficacy, and side effects, particularly for medicines with a narrow therapeutic index.

As part of our tender process, all medicines must be Medsafe‑approved. Colchicine Indoco is Medsafe approved and meets internationally recognised standards for safety, quality, and efficacy.

Colchicine Indoco contains the same excipients as the currently funded brand, Colgout, except for containing a different form of starch as the tablet binder. This starch is gluten‑free, as is the incumbent brand.

The 5% Alternative Brand Allowance allows patients to apply for funded access to a different brand if their prescriber considers the funded brand would be clinically unsuitable for their needs.

How your feedback helped

The feedback received was considered as part of the decision-making process and has helped shape our implementation activities to support people through this brand change. We want to thank everyone who took the time to share their feedback. We heard from a range of people including healthcare professionals, advocacy groups and users of medicines. You provided feedback about:

packaging and labelling considerations
the resources and communications needed to support a brand change
the people who may need additional support when undergoing a brand change

Who may be most interested

People who use funded medicines
Healthcare professionals
Advocacy groups
Suppliers

If you have any questions about the decisions in this notification, you can email us at enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz; or call our toll free number (9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday) on 0800 660 050.

Tender results – Invitation to Tender 2024/24 & 2025/26

Correction to January 2026 Tender Notification

Correction to current pack price for colchicine tab 500 mcg.

Corrections in red and strikethrough below.

Pharmac has resolved to award tenders for Principal Supply Status for some products included in the 2024/25 Invitation to Tender dated 31 October 2024 and in the 2025/26 Invitation to Tender dated 3 November 2025.

Some of the Pharmaceuticals that will be delisted when the period of Principal Supply Status commences may be subject to existing listing contracts with Pharmac. Suppliers of Pharmaceuticals that are subject to such contracts should continue to supply their Pharmaceutical under those contracts. Pharmac will continue to subsidise those Pharmaceuticals accordingly until such time as those Pharmaceuticals are delisted.

Notification of Product Changes (NOPC) forms

Please note that for any changes (price change, pack size change, new listing etc) to be effective in the Pharmaceutical Schedule (including Section H), suppliers are required to submit a Notification of Product Changes (NOPC) form to Pharmac, the Pharmacy Guild and the NZULM by:

For new listings, by 4pm on the 12^th of February 2026 or the 5^th of the month prior to listing, whichever is earlier
For price changes, by 4pm on the 12^th of the month prior to the date of subsidy change

Pharmac cannot list a product (and Pharmacies cannot claim) without this information. More information about this process, and a copy of the NOPC form can be found on our website

Process for notification of product changes

Suppliers are required to ensure that a Pharmacode has been obtained from the Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand(external link) and that a CTPP code has been obtained from the New Zealand Universal List of Medicines(external link). Pharmacodes and CTPP codes must be provided to Pharmac by the 5^th of the month prior to the date of listing, or 10 business days following the market notification date (whichever is earliest). Pharmac cannot list a product (and Pharmacies cannot claim) without the correct Pharmacode.

Correction to January 2026 Tender Notification [PDF 525 KB]

2024/25 Tender – Principal Supply Status applies until 30 June 2028

Community Pharmaceutical tenders – Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule

The decisions were as follows:

1. Tenders awarded to pharmaceuticals where at least one other brand is listed (the funded brand will change).

Chemical name	Presentation; Pack size and type	Current pack price	New pack price	Principal Supply brand (Supplier)	Date of subsidy change	Principal Supply date	Brand (Supplier) affected by delisting
Colchicine¹	Tab 500 mcg; 100 tablet blister pack	$6.00 $6.30	$3.15	Colchicine Indoco (Miro)	1 July 2026	1 December 2026²	Colgout (Aspen)
¹Please note the pack type of colchicine is changing from a bottle pack to a blister pack. ²A Brand Switch Fee will apply from 1 December 2026 until 1 March 2027.

Chemical name

Presentation;
Pack size and type

Current pack price

New pack price

Principal Supply brand
(Supplier)

Date of subsidy change

Principal Supply date

Brand (Supplier) affected by delisting

Colchicine¹

Tab 500 mcg; 100 tablet blister pack

$6.00 $6.30

$3.15

Colchicine Indoco (Miro)

1 July 2026

1 December 2026²

Colgout (Aspen)

¹Please note the pack type of colchicine is changing from a bottle pack to a blister pack.

²A Brand Switch Fee will apply from 1 December 2026 until 1 March 2027.

Hospital Pharmaceutical tenders – Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

2. Tenders awarded to pharmaceuticals where at least one other brand is listed (the funded brand will change).

Chemical name	Presentation; Pack size and type	Current pack price	New pack price	Principal Supply brand (Supplier)	DV Limit	Listing date	Principal Supply date	Brand (Supplier) affected by delisting
Colchicine¹	Tab 500 mcg; 100 tablet blister pack	$6.00 $6.30	$3.15	Colchicine Indoco (Miro)	5%	1 July 2026	1 December 2026²	Colgout (Aspen)
¹Please note the pack type of colchicine is changing from a bottle pack to a blister pack. ²A Brand Switch Fee will apply from 1 December 2026 until 1 March 2027.