Paromomycin Shortage Update: What Patients Need to Know in 2026

If you've recently been prescribed paromomycin and discovered your pharmacy doesn't carry it — or quotes a price that seems impossible — you're not alone. The paromomycin shortage is real, ongoing, and unlikely to resolve in the near term. Here is everything patients need to know in 2026.

What Is the Current Status of the Paromomycin Shortage?

In September 2021, Avet Pharmaceuticals permanently discontinued its generic paromomycin sulfate oral capsules — the most widely dispensed form of the drug. No other generic manufacturer has entered the market since then. As of 2026, the only commercially available paromomycin product in the United States is

Humatin (250 mg capsules), manufactured by Waylis Therapeutics. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) documented the shortage in May 2023, and the situation has not materially improved.

Why Did the Paromomycin Generic Disappear?

The root cause is economic. Antiparasitic drugs like paromomycin have a small, niche market in the US. Amebiasis predominantly affects people in lower-income populations and is less common in high-income countries. With relatively few prescriptions written each year, the financial returns for manufacturers are slim. When Avet decided the business case no longer worked, they exited — and no one came in to replace them.

This is a broader structural problem in the US pharmaceutical market. Rare or low-volume drugs — even when medically essential — are vulnerable to manufacturer exits because the fragile supply chains for these drugs lack enough competition to remain resilient.

How Does the Shortage Affect Patients?

Pharmacy availability: Most retail pharmacies do not stock Humatin. You may need to visit multiple pharmacies or special-order it (5–7 business day wait).

Higher prices: Without generic competition, Humatin is expensive. A bottle of 100 capsules (250 mg each) can cost over $12,000 at full cash price at some pharmacies.

Insurance complexity: Prior authorization is commonly required. Denied claims add delay to treatment.

Treatment delays: For conditions like intestinal amebiasis, delays in obtaining paromomycin for the luminal phase of treatment can allow relapse after initial treatment with metronidazole or tinidazole.

Is a Generic Version of Paromomycin Coming?

As of 2026, there are no publicly announced plans for a new generic manufacturer to enter the paromomycin market. The economics of antiparasitic generics remain challenging. Some researchers and policy advocates have called for FDA pathway reforms that would make it easier to import WHO-prequalified generics from abroad, but no such reforms have taken effect for this specific drug.

What Can You Do Right Now?

Contact multiple pharmacies. Hospital pharmacies and independent pharmacies are your best bet.

Use medfinder. This paid service calls pharmacies in your area to find which have Humatin in stock.

Get prior authorization. Ask your prescriber to start the prior auth process immediately — don't wait until you're at the pharmacy counter.

Apply for the Humatin TotalCare program. Eligible commercially insured patients pay as little as $5. Uninsured patients without Medicare or Medicaid may receive it for free.

Discuss alternatives with your doctor. If Humatin is unavailable, iodoquinol may be an option for the luminal phase.

Further Reading

Read our posts on why paromomycin is so hard to find and alternatives to paromomycin for more patient-friendly guidance.