Audience: Clinicians. Published 9 November 2026 (AEDT). Source updated 6 November 2026.
Current regulatory position
The TGA’s updated Bicillin L-A shortage notice states that the 1.2 million-unit order expected for November supply is unlikely to be available. The 1.2 million-unit prefilled syringe remains in shortage until 31 March 2027; the 600,000-unit presentation remains unavailable until 30 November 2027. These are changeable supply estimates, not assured resumption dates. This is an update to an ongoing shortage, not a new shortage declaration.
Implications for primary care
The TGA advises considering reservation of remaining Australian-registered stock for paediatric patients where clinically appropriate, with overseas-registered benzathine benzylpenicillin for other patients in line with approved indications. It recommends ordering for current needs without stockpiling.
The notice lists three section 19A alternatives: Lentocilin S 1200, Brancaster Pharma benzylpenicillin benzathine, and Benzetacil. All are PBS-subsidised, but the Brancaster product is currently unavailable. Availability of the others may vary; approval holders should be contacted for current supply information.
Preparation and safety
Overseas presentations require reconstitution and have administration instructions different from Bicillin L-A. Consult the applicable product information for preparation and administration rather than assuming interchangeability with the prefilled syringe. The notice’s page history explicitly identifies a 6 November needle-gauge update; this article does not reproduce procedural instructions.
The TGA states that Bicillin L-A and all listed section 19A alternatives are unsuitable for patients with soy or peanut allergy because of lecithin content. Lentocilin’s supplied diluent contains lidocaine and is unsuitable in lidocaine allergy. Assess product suitability before prescribing.
Evidence limits
This is regulator supply-management advice, not comparative efficacy evidence or a patient-specific protocol. Local availability and projected dates require rechecking. Trial effect sizes, funding and conflict appraisal are not applicable to this regulatory notice.
Prepared with AI assistance from the linked TGA notice. No clinical review by the ATM Health editorial team is claimed. General information only, not individual medical advice.
Primary source
TGA: Bicillin L-A shortage, alternatives and safety advice (updated 6 November 2026; accessed 9 November 2026, AEDT).