Switching from Asacol to Octasa MR 400mg or 800mg

14th February 2019
Following discussions at recent North Cumbria APC meetings and in light of the considerable savings that can be made across North Cumbria CGG, it has been agreed that since the merger this month with North of Tyne and Gateshead APC, we will be now be using the OCTASA MR 400mg and 800mg brand of tablets as first line for all oral Mesalazine MR 400mg and 800mg prescribing, as per NoT, Gateshead & North Cumbria Formulary

Evidence for choosing to use Octasa MR Brand:

• Asacol 400mg MR Tablets and Octasa 400mg MR Tabletsare both licensed for the treatment of mild to moderate acute exacerbations of ulcerative colitis (UC) and maintenance of remission of UC and Crohn’s ileo-colitis. Octasa MR is a branded generic version of Asacol MR.
• The BNF states: There is no evidence to show that any one oral preparation of mesalazine is more effective than another; however, the delivery characteristics of oral mesalazine preparations may vary. (medicinescomplete.com)
• Octasa MR tablets have virtually the same in vitro dissolution profile, pH for release, site of drug release and same formulation as the Asacol MR brand. (Bulletin 79: Branded mesalazine prescribing)
• Octasa MR are significantly cheaper than Asacol MR (Drug Tarriff January 2019

Spend on Asacol MR Brand (400mg and 800mg) in last 3 months in North Cumbria = £77,224.90

If switched to Octasa MR, equivalent spend would be = £48,971.26

Potential savings over 3 months = £28,253.64

Potential savings extrapolated over 12 months = £113,014.56

North Cumbria GI consultants have already started to implement this change, starting any new patients who require treatment on the Octasa brand.

The next stage is for patients currently prescribed

1. Generic Mesalazine MR 400mg or 800mg tablets or
2. Asacol MR 400mg or 800mg brand to be switched to the OCTASA MR 400mg or 800mg brand of tablets.

A switch letter has been approved by the North Cumbrian GI Specialists and should be used to inform patients of the switch, and of the importance of reporting any changes in symptoms to the Practice.

Jane Carruthers

Medicines Optimisation Pharmacist for North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group

North of England Commissioning Support

Email: jane.carruthers@cumbria.necsu.nhs.uk