HPS Pharmacies wish to provide an update on the availability of urokinase. While this drug is not marketed in Australia, it may be accessed through the special access scheme (SAS). However, there is currently a global shortage of urokinase as follows:

• Urokinase 60,000 IU – SAS stock available
• Urokinase 100,000 IU – unavailable
• Urokinase 120,000 IU – SAS stock available
• Urokinase 500,000 IU – unavailable
• Urokinase 600,000 IU – unavailable

Please note that all SAS medications are subject to a longer lead-time as they must be sourced internationally. 

Retain this notice in a prominent position, including in other related business units until supplies return to normal. Report any problems identified with medicines, vaccines or medical devices to the TGA.  

Should you require further information regarding this matter, please contact your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.

HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Mundipharma is experiencing a supply interruption for Targin^® (oxycodone + naloxone) as follows:

*Supplier has stock which should be arriving in wholesalers shortly

Retain this notice in a prominent position, including in other related business units until supplies return to normal. Report any problems identified with medicines, vaccines or medical devices to the TGA.

Should you require further information regarding this matter, please contact Mundipharma on (02) 9231 7200 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.

HPS Pharmacies wish to advise that Pfizer, in consultation with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), has communicated a change in reconstitution time for Zavicefta^® as follows:

Zavicefta^® Injection
Ceftazidime/avibactam 2000/500 mg
ARTG 301205

The reconstitution time for Zavicefta^® has changed from three minutes to up to four minutes. This slight increase is due to a small change in the particle size distribution of the active ingredients.

The manufacturer advises that Zavicefta^® vials are to be reconstituted with 10mL sterile Water for Injection, before being further diluted with an appropriate IV buffer. The product information should be reviewed for full reconstitution and administration instructions.

Retain this notice in a prominent position, including in other related business units for one month. Report any problems identified with medicines, vaccines or medical devices to the TGA.

Should you require further information regarding this matter, please contact Pfizer on 1800 675 229 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.

HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Pfizer is experiencing a supply interruption for ephedrine sulfate as follows:

DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate
Ephedrine Sulfate 30mg/1mL
ARTG 16325 

This is a long-term supply interruption. However, warehouses in some states may still have limited quantities of DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate injection available.

If alternative presentations of ephedrine are considered, it should be noted that the ephedrine content may differ as shown in the following dose equivalencies:

• Ephedrine hydrochloride 30 mg/mL contains ephedrine 25 mg/mL
• Ephedrine sulfate 30 mg/mL contains ephedrine 23.1 mg/mL

Retain this notice in a prominent position, including in other related business units until supplies return to normal. Report any problems identified with medicines, vaccines or medical devices to the TGA.

Should you require further information regarding this matter, please contact Pfizer on 1800 629 921 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.

HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Pfizer is continuing to experience a supply interruption for Clopine^® Suspension as follows:

Clopine^® Suspension
Clozapine 50 mg/mL
ARTG 142239  

This is a long-term supply issue. Normal supplies of Clopine^® Suspension are expected to return in January 2025. This supply interruption does not affect Clopine^® tablets.

Versacloz^® Suspension is an internationally registered brand of clozapine oral suspension that has been approved for supply under Section 19A of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989.

Important points to note regarding Versacloz^® Suspension:

• Versacloz^® Suspension appears less viscous than Clopine^® Suspension and may have a slightly different taste;
• Unlike Clopine^® Suspension, Versacloz^® Suspension does not need to be shaken 24 hours before the first use. It should still be shaken for 10 seconds prior to withdrawing each dose;
• Patients should continue to be monitored on ClopineCentral™, noting the tradename of medicine being used; and
• Versacloz^® Suspension is subsidised on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Should you require further information regarding this matter, please contact Pfizer on 1800 675 229 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.

HPS Pharmacies wish to advise that Phebra has changed the labelling of Sodium Bicarbonate 8.4% Injection as follows:

Phebra Sodium Bicarbonate 8.4% Vial
Sodium bicarbonate 8.4g/100mL
ARTG 48376

The carton and vial labels have been amended to give more prominence to the mmol concentration of sodium and bicarbonate ions. Phebra confirms that each 100mL vial of Sodium Bicarbonate 8.4% Injection contains 100 mmol of sodium ions and 100 mmol of bicarbonate ions.

To ensure uninterrupted supply, Phebra will continue to supply product from the current batch (batch number 14994) which only expresses the mmol strength within the content on the main panel. Future batches will have the mmol strength displayed more prominently adjacent to the medicine name.

This packaging change has occurred in order to align with the new labelling requirements in Therapeutic Goods Order No. 91.

Retain this notice in a prominent position, including in other related business units for one month. Report any problems identified with medicines, vaccines or medical devices to the TGA.
 
Should you require further information regarding this matter, please contact Phebra on 1800 720 020 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.

HPS Pharmacies wish to advise that Phebra has changed the labelling of Magnesium Sulfate Heptahydrate 50% Concentrated Injection as follows:

Magnesium Sulfate Heptahydrate 50% Concentrated Injection  
Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate 500mg/mL
ARTG 160885 

The vial and carton labelling has been updated following a recommendation from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The new labelling gives the mmol strength more prominence to align with current clinical practice.

Each 10mL vial of Magnesium Sulfate Heptahydrate 50% Concentrated Injection contains 5g of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, which is equivalent to 20mmol of magnesium ions.

To ensure uninterrupted supply, Phebra will continue to supply product from the current batch (batch number 14955) which only expresses the mmol strength within the content on the main panel. Future batches will have the mmol strength displayed more prominently adjacent to the medicine name.

For further information, consult the updated Product Information.

Retain this notice in a prominent position, including in other related business units for one month. Report any problems identified with medicines, vaccines or medical devices to the TGA.

Should you require further information regarding this matter, please contact Phebra on 1800 720 020 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.

Drug Availability

HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Bristol-Myers Squibb is experiencing a supply interruption for subcutaneous presentations of Orencia^® as follows:

Orencia^® ClickJect Autoinjector
Abatacept (rch) 125 mg
ARTG 236039

Orencia^® Syringe
Abatacept (rch) 125 mg
ARTG 206764

Normal supplies of Orencia^® syringes are expected to resume by end-February 2022, with supplies of Orencia^® autoinjectors expected to return by late March 2022.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has made a Serious Scarcity Substitution Instrument (SSSI) to help manage this situation. This instrument declares Orencia^® autoinjectors and syringes to be scarce. While both products currently have limited availability, abatacept syringes (Orencia^®) and abatacept autoinjector (Orencia ClickJect^®) can be interchangeably substituted under this SSSI if available.

The SSSI only relates to the subcutaneous presentations of Orencia^®. It will remain in force until 30 April 2022 (unless revoked earlier by the TGA if the scarcity is resolved or safety concerns are identified). Substitutions made under this SSSI will still be subsidised on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for eligible patients.

Retain this notice in a prominent position, including in other related business units until supplies return to normal. Report any problems identified with medicines, vaccines or medical devices to the TGA.

Should you require further information regarding this matter, please contact Bristol-Myers Squibb on 1800 067 567 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.

HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Merck Sharp & Dohme is experiencing a supply interruption for OncoTICE^® as follows:

OncoTICE^® Vials
Mycobacterium bovis (Bacillus Calmette and Guerin (BCG) strain) 5 hundred million CFU
ARTG 59912

This supply interruption is due to an unexpected increase in demand as well as COVID-related supply chain issues. Merck Sharp & Dohme anticipate that limited availability is likely to extend into late-2024. However, the current out-of-stock situation is expected to be temporary.

Retain this notice in a prominent position, including in other related business units until supplies return to normal. Report any problems identified with medicines, vaccines or medical devices to the TGA.

Should you require further information regarding this matter, please contact Merck Sharp & Dohme on 1800 818 553 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.

HPS Pharmacies wish to give notice that Mundipharma is experiencing a supply interruption for Dilaudid^® tablets as follows:

Dilaudid^® Tablets
Hydromorphone hydrochloride 2mg
ARTG 67353 

Dilaudid^® Tablets
Hydromorphone hydrochloride 4mg
ARTG 67354 

Normal supplies are expected to resume by end-March 2022. HPS Pharmacies has sourced an internationally registered alternative that may be accessed via the Special Access Scheme (SAS), if necessary. Please note that SAS alternatives are subject to a longer lead-time and different pricing as they must be sourced internationally.

Retain this notice in a prominent position, including in other related business units until supplies return to normal. Report any problems identified with medicines, vaccines or medical devices to the TGA.

Should you require further information regarding this matter, please contact Mundipharma on 1800 188 009 or your pharmacist at HPS Pharmacies.