Pfizer is stopping the sale and marketing of its hormone replacement therapy Premarin in Canada following an internal review, according to CBC News.
The decision applies to the vaginal cream and three strengths of oral tablets. Premarin vaginal cream is currently unavailable and will not be returning, Pfizer Canada’s pharmaceutical customer service centre confirmed to CBC News.
The company will no longer market the vaginal cream or the tablets, though the oral medication is expected to remain available through mid-2027 based on existing inventories. Pfizer Canada told Reuters that the vaginal cream has faced a shortage in Canada since June.
Demand for hormone replacement therapy has risen, particularly in the United States. Prescriptions increased following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s November 2025 removal of long-standing safety warnings from the treatments.
Other menopause treatments are also facing supply constraints across the country. Earlier this month, Health Canada reported that certain strengths of estradiol transdermal patches made by Bayer and Sandoz Canada were in short supply. Intermittent shortages are expected to continue until early 2027.
The discontinuation of Premarin alongside patch shortages could add pressure on Canada’s menopause drug supply. Pfizer told Reuters that the decision was unrelated to any new safety, efficacy, or quality concerns, adding that other treatment options remain available.
Supplies of 0.3 milligram, 0.625 mg, and 1.25 mg Premarin pills currently in stock are anticipated to hold out until approximately the middle of 2027. Stocks could run out sooner if demand increases.
American regulators began evaluating testosterone therapy for menopausal women in September and called on drugmakers to conduct more woman-specific research. Testosterone is currently not approved to treat menopause symptoms in Canada or the U.S., though more women are using it off-label.
As reported by Reuters, this action comes on the heels of a distinct inventory issue in India where Pfizer halted marketing of the vaginal cream version of Premarin over the summer in July. The company stated at the time that it was exploring options to resume supplies.
According to Reuters coverage, Pfizer clarified that this recent choice is restricted solely to Canada, choosing not to discuss availability conditions elsewhere. Used to address declining estrogen levels, Premarin supplies a blend of estrogen hormones to help manage menopause indicators like painful intercourse and vaginal dryness.
Premarin cream and tablets are sold globally, including in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Singapore. Premarin Intravenous, which is used in hospitals to treat abnormal uterine bleeding due to hormonal imbalance, is not affected by the change.
