Pharmaceutical company Seqirus has notified the Australian medicine regulator Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) that it will be discontinuing the sale of its injectable Benpen (benzylpenicillin sodium) products due to commercial reasons.
Benzylpenicillin sodium is used to treat bacterial infections.
Benpen is an injectable antibiotic that contains benzylpenicillin sodium as its active ingredient. It is widely used in Australia to treat bacterial infections following surgery and other medical procedures.
The spinoff vaccine arm of Australian biopharma giant CSL said it would progressively discontinue all strengths of Benpen injection products, beginning with the 600-milligram (mg) dose at the end of November.
The company cited the availability of several generic alternatives as the reason for the discontinuation.
CSL Seqirus will no longer supply Benpen to the Australian market, due to the registration of several generic products.
The TGA added: "The discontinuations are due to commercial decisions and are not related to product safety, quality or effectiveness." It also said that the supply of the injection will continue until the existing stock is exhausted.
Alternative brands of benzylpenicillin sodium injection registered in Australia are expected to be available in the future, according to the regulator.