Last updated: April 25, 2026
Who Supplies Penicillin-VK (Phenoxymethylpenicillin) and What Do They Supply?
Penicillin-VK (phenoxymethylpenicillin) is a narrow-spectrum, orally administered beta-lactam antibiotic. Supply for Penicillin-VK typically comes from a mix of (1) finished-dose manufacturers, (2) API producers for phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium/sodium (or related salt forms used to formulate), and (3) contract manufacturers that package finished tablets/capsules under NDA or ANDA programs.
This response compiles the supplier landscape for Penicillin-VK across the API-to-finished-dose chain using established public sourcing and market presence data (regulatory and industry listings).
Finished-dose Penicillin-VK: Which Companies Market Tablets or Capsules?
Penicillin-VK finished doses are marketed under multiple brand and generic labels across jurisdictions. In practice, “supplier” in this category maps to the finished-dose MAH/NDA or ANDA holder and the manufacturing site that produces the tablets/capsules.
Key finished-dose suppliers with documented market presence
| Supplier (Company) |
Where they typically show up |
Product form commonly seen in market |
| Pfizer |
US/Canada markets for historical branded and later generic ecosystem |
Tablet/capsule presentations depending on market cycle |
| Mylan (includes legacy Viatris/Mylan footprint) |
US generic supply |
Generic Penicillin-VK tablets |
| Sandoz (legacy Novartis generics) |
US/EU generic supply |
Generic Penicillin-VK tablets |
| Teva |
US generic supply |
Generic Penicillin-VK tablets |
| Camber Pharmaceuticals (legacy) |
US generic supply |
Generic Penicillin-VK tablets |
| Actavis/Watson (historical footprint) |
US generic supply |
Generic Penicillin-VK tablets |
Commercial reality: Penicillin-VK is older, low-margin, and formulation-stable, so supplier lists shift with ANDA approvals, manufacturing changes, and discontinuations. The most durable “supplier” identifiers are the ANDA holders and their manufacturing sites rather than brand names.
Penicillin-VK API: Who Produces Phenoxymethylpenicillin?
Penicillin-VK drug substance is produced as phenoxymethylpenicillin in a salt form appropriate for downstream formulation (often potassium or sodium depending on the finished-dose spec used by the ANDA/finished-dose manufacturer).
API supply typically comes from:
- Chinese and Indian API producers with beta-lactam fermentation capability and downstream crystallization/purification steps
- Specialty API producers that supply intermediates or penicillin derivatives to fill-ins for finished-dose makers
Common Penicillin-VK API supply sources (industry-standard for beta-lactam API)
| Supplier (Company) |
Manufacturing footprint typically tied to |
API role |
| Hubei Kerui Pharmaceutical (China) |
Beta-lactam fermentation and penicillin derivatives |
Phenoxymethylpenicillin API |
| Sichuan Kelun (China) |
Penicillin derivatives supply chain |
Phenoxymethylpenicillin API |
| Aarti / Aarti-derived beta-lactam supply network (India footprint) |
Penicillin-derivative API manufacturing |
Phenoxymethylpenicillin API |
| Jiangsu/Guangdong beta-lactam API clusters (China) |
Penicillin API bulk production |
Phenoxymethylpenicillin API |
| Contract API makers for salts and polymorph control |
Crystallization, polymorph and impurity control |
Salt-form API for tablets |
This category is the most fluid in the market, because API pricing and approvals change faster than finished-dose inventory.
What Counts as a “Supplier” in Penicillin-VK Sourcing?
Penicillin-VK sourcing usually requires mapping each layer to a different business decision:
1) Finished-dose supplier (ANDA/MAH + manufacturer)
- Determines label/strength, packaging configuration, and distribution channel
- Drives supply continuity because tablets/capsules require finished-dose packaging, QA batch release, and distribution logistics
2) API supplier (drug substance manufacturer)
- Determines impurity profile, residual solvents, microbiological specs, and cost structure
- Often the limiting factor when finished-dose manufacturers switch supply due to pricing or compliance constraints
3) Intermediates and contract manufacturing
- Beta-lactam APIs depend on controlled crystallization and purification
- Contract manufacturers support batching and tablet/capsule compression/fill-finish
Procurement Map: How Procurement Teams Typically Source Penicillin-VK
Sourcing pathways
| Pathway |
Who you buy from |
What you control |
| Direct finished-dose purchase |
ANDA/MAH or distributor |
GTIN/label, packaging, distribution schedule |
| Finished-dose contract manufacturing |
Contract manufacturer |
Batch release method, formulation, packaging |
| API purchase |
API supplier |
Drug substance specs, lead times, and impurity profile |
| Dual sourcing |
Two finished-dose makers with shared or diverse API sources |
Availability risk reduction |
Typical lead-time and risk drivers
- API fermentation batch scheduling (beta-lactam fermentation and purification capacity)
- Regulatory status and batch release controls
- Market demand swings (Penicillin-VK is subject to periodic shortages in some regions)
Regulatory and Listing Sources Used to Identify Suppliers
Supplier identification is anchored to public regulatory and listing databases:
- FDA’s drug databases for ANDA holders, labelers, and application structures (US)
- EMA and national agency listings for EU-marketed equivalents
- Wholesale distribution and market catalog records for which labels are currently stocked
Penicillin-VK is a legacy generic antibiotic; supplier lists are best built from current product labelers and ANDA/MAH structures, then validated against manufacturing site disclosures.
Key Takeaways
- Penicillin-VK supply splits into finished-dose suppliers and API producers; most practical supplier decisions hinge on finished-dose labelers/ANDA holders plus their manufacturing sites.
- US generic market suppliers commonly include major generic firms such as Teva, Sandoz, Mylan legacy, and Pfizer legacy footprint, with additional players appearing through specific ANDA cycles.
- API supply is concentrated among specialized beta-lactam producers, with many candidates coming from established China and India beta-lactam API ecosystems, where penicillin derivative fermentation and purification capacity determines continuity.
- Supplier lists for Penicillin-VK change with ANDA approvals and manufacturing site transitions, so the durable approach is to track labeler/MAH + manufacturing site rather than relying on a static brand list.
FAQs
1) Is Penicillin-VK supplied mainly as tablets or capsules?
Most markets primarily stock tablets; capsule formats appear depending on country and manufacturer.
2) Are Penicillin-VK API and finished-dose suppliers usually the same company?
Often no. Finished-dose makers frequently source phenoxymethylpenicillin API from specialized API producers, then formulate and package tablets/capsules under their own regulatory applications.
3) What creates supply risk for Penicillin-VK?
API fermentation and purification capacity, plus impurity control and batch release timelines, drive most disruptions.
4) How do procurement teams validate a Penicillin-VK “supplier”?
They verify the finished-dose labeler/MAH or ANDA holder and the associated manufacturing site, then cross-check against batch release records and current regulatory listings.
5) Why do Penicillin-VK supplier names change over time?
Generic approvals, manufacturing site transfers, and discontinuations change the set of ANDA/MAH labelers that distribute in specific markets.
References
[1] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Orange Book: Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations (penicillin v potassium / phenoxymethylpenicillin product listings). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/
[2] European Medicines Agency. Medicines database and national marketing authorisation listings for phenoxymethylpenicillin/penicillin V products. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines
[3] FDA. Drug Shortages (archive and monitoring context for antibiotics including legacy generics). https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-shortages
