Mesalazine 400 mg tablets (Asacol): Supply issue

Last Updated: 19 June 2025

Supply issue Active

Chiesi, the supplier, advises of a constraint in the supply of the 400 mg mesalazine tablets (Pharmacode: 241113 and 2536544).

19 June 2025 | 1600 mg listed

To help prevent further stock issues, Pharmac has listed the 1600 mg mesalazine tablet.

Affected product

Chiesi, the supplier, has reported a supply constraint of 400 mg Asacol tablets. Stock is in the country, but a slow quality assurance process means it is not available in high volumes. Stock of the 800 mg is available.

Chemical: Mesalazine
Brand: Asacol
Pharmacode: 241113 and 2536544
Subsidy: $49.50
Measure / Qty: per 100

Schedule listing for mesalazine(external link)

Alternative products

For people taking multiple 400 mg tablets, there are funded options available. Prescribers may need to check Medsafe datasheets for indications and release profiles:

Asacol | Medsafe datasheet [PDF](external link)

Pentasa | Medsafe datasheet [PDF](external link)

NZ Formulary monograph for mesalazine(external link)

Schedule listing for all funded presentations of mesalazine(external link)

Affected people will need to speak with their health care team about these treatment options. A new prescription will be needed.

1600 mg presentation listed from 1 July 2025

This presentation should be available by early July 2025

Chemical: Mesalazine
Brand: Asacol
Pharmacode: 2709325
Subsidy: $85.50
Measure / Qty: per 60
Section 29 and wastage claimable

Expected resupply

More stock of the 400 mg tablets is expected to arrive by mid-June 2025. It can take another 1 to 2 weeks for stock to reach pharmacies around the motu. We are working with Chiesi to understand when supply will return to normal.

Who to contact

If you have questions about this issue, email enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz

Please include as much information as you can about the product (presentation, brand, pharmacode) and who your wholesaler is.