More good news about Mestinon supply improving for both 60mg and 180mg! The Mestinon supply shortage has been an evolving issue over the last few months and the MAA has been actively monitoring the situation and speaking with government and industry stakeholders to ensure we can access this important medication. We thank you for contacting us and your state associations with your feedback and we appreciate this has been concerning and sometimes frustrating. Please see the latest update below.
180mg/Timespan
The shortage of Mestinon Timespan 180mg tablets is now expected to resolve on 31 January 2023. The supplier iNova have confirmed they have received 180mg stock. They have despatched backorders and can now fill new orders for their wholesalers. Approximate dates wholesalers should be able to fulfil pharmacy orders are:
• NSW, VIC, ACT & QLD: 1 February 2023
• SA & NT: 3 February 2023
• WA, TAS & NORTH QLD: 6 February 2023
Please note there may still be a few days for your pharmacist to then receive your order and get it to you.
To meet demand throughout January, Medsurge received a second Section 19A approval for another 180mg product (MESTINON-SR pyridostigmine bromide 180 mg slow-release tablets Canada) and they have confirmed sufficient supply of this product with the TGA. However, please be aware that the PBS listing for this particular product had not yet been approved at the time of writing this update.
We encourage you to speak with your pharmacist and ensure they are aware of iNova’s recent stock arrival and the resumption of usual processes for 180mg supply.
60mg
The shortage issue has been resolved and supply has resumed. Pharmacists can access 60mg from their usual wholesaler.
The TGA have assured us they will continue to monitor the supply of Mestinon and facilitate patient access where possible.
Susan White, MAA Chairperson
Natalie Windle, MAA Secretary
Glenda Bidner, MAA Board Member
Good news for the new year! The latest indication from iNova and via the TGA website is that the Mestinon 60mg supply shortage has been resolved sooner than expected.
Wholesale orders for Mestinon 60mg have been despatched and wholesalers started receiving stock at their warehouses from 3rd January 2023. It is estimated that pharmacists should then receive and be able to dispense Mestinon 60mg approximately 10 business days after this.
This means the process for your Mestinon 60mg is essentially back to ‘normal’ and pharmacists should place orders directly with their wholesaler and not with iNova.
For the 180mg/Timespan, the supply shortage remains current and Medsurge continues to fill orders for 180mg under Section 19A. This product is subsidised by the PBS and you take your normal prescription to your pharmacy and your pharmacist then contacts Medsurge to place the order.
A reminder that it is worth putting in your scripts earlier than usual for either 60mg and 180mg to ensure you receive your next lot of Mestinon before you run out.
Susan White, MAA Chairperson
Natalie Windle, MAA Secretary
Glenda Bidner, MAA Board Member
The MAA has continued to engage with government and industry stakeholders to ensure there is clarity and continued access to Mestinon 180mg and 60mg at a manageable cost for MG patients in Australia. We understand that this supply shortage has caused distress and concern for some of our community and we encourage you to check in with your Doctors as needed. Below is a comprehensive update on the current situation and we thank you for your patience as we navigate this unique and complex situation.
Thank you also to everyone who completed our short survey concerning your use of these two medications as this data can help with our ongoing conversations with industry and government.
Timespan (180mg):
A reminder that the Section 19A 180mg product has been approved and is subsidised by the PBS. This product is coming in to Australia through Medsurge and they are filling orders as they come in. The shortage of the usual Australian-registered Timespan is expected to be impacted until 24 March 2023 and the Section 19A arrangements have been approved until 31 May 2023 to assist with this shortage.
60mg:
The Section 19A 60mg product has been approved and there will be no interference with any of the PBS listing arrangements for this medication. Please note there are some constraints in place to reduce stockpiling and orders from pharmacies are limited to ‘1 product bottle per order’ to ensure that the majority of patients can get access to the medicine until the shortage is resolved. The sponsor, iNova, has confirmed that supplies of the Australian-registered Mestinon 60mg tablets are in transit and the shortage of this usual 60mg product is expected to be resolved late December 2022 (sooner than initially expected). iNova is confident that the Section 19A supply can cover the market until the shortage resolves.
For both of the above, please take your normal prescription to your pharmacy and then your pharmacist contacts the relevant sponsor (Medsurge for 180mg and iNova for 60mg) to order and fill your script. It is important to be vigilant with your own supply of your medication and please get your scripts in earlier than you normally would to ensure your order can be placed and you do not run out.
Thank you again for your patience and understanding. The MAA represents MG patients at the national level and if you have any further concerns or feedback, please contact us.
Email info@mgaq.org.au or call 1800 802 568
Email info@myasthenia.org.au or call (02) 4283 2815
Mestinon Shortage -your help is requested.
As per previous communications, the Myasthenia community are aware of the efforts being made by the MAA to bring about a re-established supply of Pyridostigmine/Mestinon medication for Australians. To further conversations with Industry and Government the MAA are looking for data about the amount of medications we require on a weekly basis. Your assistance in completing this short survey would be greatly appreciated. No personal data will be held. Thank you for your support. Please use the following link. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LVC889T
Susan White MAA Chairperson
Natalie Windle, MAA Secretary/MGNSW President
Glenda Bidner, MAA Board Member/MGNSW Vice President
MAA update on Mestinon supply – 2 December 2022
The MAA continues to stay abreast of the Mestinon supply shortage issue and is in regular contact with government and industry stakeholders. The latest update for Timespan (180mg) and 60mg is below.
Timespan (180mg): Section 19A approval is extended to 31 May 2023 (previously approved until 30 November 2022) and this is listed for subsidy under the PBS. This means you should pay what you normally pay for your Mestinon Timespan script. Medsurge Healthcare is currently assisting with the import and supply of this product. Please get your scripts in so that your Timespan can be ordered.
60mg: Section 19A approval has now been confirmed to 31 May 2023, however the PBS subsidy is not yet confirmed but we understand an application is pending. iNova Pharmaceuticals is currently assisting with the import and supply of this product.
A reminder that Section 19A aims to reduce the impact of the shortages of the usual Mestinon products brought into Australia.
Please ensure you take information provided by the MAA updates with you to your pharmacist to assist with the process.
Thank you for continuing to support each other as a patient community and if you have any concerns or feedback please contact us:
Email info@myasthenia.org.au or call (02) 4283 2815
Email info@mgaq.org.au or call 1800 802 568
Update on Mestinon Timespan – 19 November 2022
Given the current supply shortage for Mestinon Timespan (180mg), the Myasthenia Alliance Australia has previously notified our MG community that it is available under an alternative arrangement (Section 19A) through Medsurge Healthcare and you use your regular prescription for this.
We strongly encourage you to get your script for Mestinon Timespan to the pharmacy now and please do not let your own supply of Mestinon Timespan be less than 1 month.
Please let us know any feedback by contacting us:
Email info@myasthenia.org.au or call (02) 4283 2815
Email info@mgaq.org.au or call 1800 802 568
We recognise that there are ongoing supply issues for some forms of Mestinon (particularly Timespan 180mg and 60mg) in Australia. We appreciate this can be concerning for MG patients who take Mestinon continuously and/or regularly.
The MAA supports the needs of MG patients from all states and we are working for our community to ensure there are alternative solutions for accessing Mestinon during the supply shortage. We assure you that we are actively keeping abreast of this situation. Please see recent updates below and your state associations (MGNSW and MGAQ) and the MAA will keep you as up-to-date as we can.
Mestinon Timespan 180mg is available under Section 19A, with Medsurge Healthcare using suppliers in the USA. Patients only need their regular prescription to obtain Mestinon Timespan from their pharmacy. A price can be more clearly determined once the stock arrives.
For Mestinon 60mg, if ringing around is unsuccessful, patients need to visit their doctor and ask them to complete a Special Access Scheme (SAS) form and submit this to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Once this is approved, it will be returned to the doctor to then pass on to the patient. The patient will submit this to their pharmacist, who will use this approval number to order the medication (each script will be processed and ordered separately). The pharmacy will be advised of the cost of the medication and will inform the patient.
Please visit the TGA website regularly as this will help confirm the need for Mestinon for MG patients.
More information on Section 19A approvals to address medicine shortages is available here and more information on the SAS is here.
Natalie Windle, MAA Secretary/MGNSW President
Glenda Bidner, MAA Board Member/MGNSW Vice President