Listen to this article
Estimated 3 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Pfizer will no longer sell its hormone replacement therapy Premarin in Canada following an internal review. The product has been available as a vaginal cream and three strengths of oral tablets.
Premarin vaginal cream, which is used to treat symptoms of menopause, is currently unavailable and will not be returning, CBC News has confirmed.
According to Pfizer Canada’s pharmaceutical customer service centre, the company will no longer be marketing Premarin vaginal cream and Premarin tablets, although the tablets are expected to remain available through mid-2027.
Pfizer Canada told Reuters that there’s been a shortage of the vaginal cream in Canada since June.
Demand for hormone replacement therapy has been rising, particularly in the United States, where prescriptions have increased following the U.S. Food and Drug Association’s November 2025 removal of long-standing safety warnings from the treatments.
Some other hormone therapy products to treat menopause symptoms are also facing supply constraints in Canada. Earlier this month, Health Canada said certain strengths of estradiol transdermal patches made by Bayer and Sandoz Canada were in short supply, with intermittent shortages expected to continue until early 2027.
The discontinuation of Premarin products, alongside shortages of some estradiol patches, could add to pressure on Canada’s menopause drug supply.
The decision was not related to any new safety, efficacy or quality concerns, Pfizer told Reuters, adding that other treatment options were available in Canada.
Existing inventories of Premarin tablets in 0.3 milligram, 0.625 mg and 1.25 mg strengths are expected to last until about mid-2027, although stocks could run out sooner if demand increases, the company said.
In September, American regulators began evaluating testosterone therapy for menopausal women and called on drugmakers to do more woman-specific research. Currently, testosterone is not approved to treat menopause symptoms in Canada or the U.S., but more women are using it off-label.
The move follows a separate supply disruption in India, where Pfizer suspended sales of Premarin vaginal cream in July, Reuters reported at the time. The company had said it was exploring options to resume supplies.
Pfizer said its latest decision applied only to Canada and declined to comment on supply situations in other markets, Reuters reported.
The treatment contains a mixture of estrogen hormones and is prescribed to treat vaginal dryness, painful intercourse and other symptoms of menopause caused by declining estrogen levels.
Premarin cream and tablets are sold around the world, including in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Singapore.
Premarin Intravenous, used in hospitals for the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding due to hormonal imbalance, is not affected.
