AstraZeneca Is Discontinuing its Nolvadex Brand

WILMINGTON, Delaware—Abandoning the tamoxifen market to its generic competitors, AstraZeneca will cease commercial manufacturing of Nolvadex by the end of June. "Once commercial supplies are exhausted, your patients will no longer be able to obtain brand name Nolvadex tablets," Kenneth A. Kern, MD, the company's director of clinical research, wrote health care professionals in a letter released by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Dr. Kern encouraged providers to discuss alternative therapy with their patients and added that with the wide availability of generic tamoxifen, the discontinuation "should in no way affect patient access to this medication." He also wrote that after June 30, Nolvadex will no longer be available through the AstraZeneca Foundation Patient Assistance Program.