Mesalazine 400 mg tablets (Asacol): Supply issue

Affected product

Chiesi, the supplier, is out of stock of 400 mg Asacol tablets. 

• 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) (800 mg and 1600 mg available)

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 medicine is not yet approved by Medsafe. As such it needs to be prescribed and dispensed in line with section 29 of the Medicines Act. 

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

Prescribing and supplying an unapproved medicine

Section 29 of the Medicines Act 1981 allows for medicines that are not Medsafe approved to be prescribed and supplied to people. The medicine must be prescribed by someone registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand – such as, a doctor. 

We know supplying a medicine under section 29 is not ideal. In this case, however, this will allow patients to be able to access an appropriate treatment. 

We apologise for any inconvenience this causes. 

Advice for prescribing under section 29 – BPAC website(external link) 

Prescriber and pharmacist requirements for section 29 medicines – Medsafe website (external link)

Medsafe’s section 29 Declaration / Notification Form [DOC](external link)

What patients need to know about unapproved medicines – Healthify website(external link)

Expected resupply

More stock is expected to arrive in September 2025. It can take another 1 to 2 weeks for stock to reach pharmacies. 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.  

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