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When is Asacol going to go generic

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/26/2011 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
I did some research on this the other day. Asacol is no longer produced by P&G. It is now offered by Warner Chilcott. You can access their patient assistance form below:

http://www.needymeds.org/papforms/warner0136.pdf

I would call the number on the form to find out the details. 1 800 830 9049

I updated the sticky resources thread on the top of the board. If you're lookinig for Asacol or another medication, it's probably listed.

Posted 7/26/2011 9:08 PM (GMT 0)
2014 Generic release date.
Asacol
® mesalamine delayedrelease tablet
$541 Million annual sale.

http://www.medcohealth.com/art/corporate/anticipatedfirsttime_generics.pdf
Posted 7/26/2011 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
Generic Lialda will be available in 2020.  Canasa isn't on the list.  That's the one I was looking for.

Post Edited (Luv2Jump) : 7/26/2011 5:39:18 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/26/2011 11:41 PM (GMT 0)
You can get salofalk suppositories from Canada for much cheaper and they are the same as Canasa.

Canasa has a great patient assistance program: http://canasacare.com/

Posted 7/27/2011 5:06 AM (GMT 0)

notsosicklygirl said...
You can get salofalk suppositories from Canada for much cheaper and they are the same as Canasa.


I get Salofalk supps and enemas from Canada. It's kind of a hassle though because it takes 2 -3 weeks to get them so I have to plan for when I'll need them. It would be nice to be able to go to a nearby store and get them right away.
Posted 7/27/2011 6:54 AM (GMT 0)
When it becomes generic, it probably won't work for me anymore haha
Posted 7/31/2011 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
Generic Asacol from Canada is working fine for me. In fact, when I switched from brand to generic, I didn't experience any period of adjustment where I was feeling sick, bloated, cramping, etc.

Only downside I've had with it is the pills are a different shape, and they sometimes stick in the weekly pill reminder box I use.
Posted 8/1/2011 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
Canasa's patent ran out a couple years ago. For whatever reason, no generic is being manufactured.
Posted 8/1/2011 4:47 AM (GMT 0)
Looks like Canasa is the cheapest in Canada through Northwest.

$203.99 for 90 suppositories, 1000 mg.

http://www.northwestpharmacy.com
Posted 5/29/2012 11:04 PM (GMT 0)
I've had Ulceraltive Colitis for many years and guess I'll have it till the end.  It appears I'm in the same boat as most of you.  I just refilled my three-month prescription for Asacol 400 mg... 3 tabs - 3 times a day....  $1,942.19.   My wife's insurance paid all but $302.70.    That's about $300 more than I can afford right now, living on pension and trying to find part-time jobs.   My wife is still working to keep her insurance because she has one prescription for a blood disorder that will cost us $64,800.00 year (at today's prices), when she's no longer able to work.   It's a drug normally associated with cancer radiation treatments so most patients only use it for short periods.  There's no generic in sight and her insurance company raises her co-pay every year because of the cost.  Now there is "talk" that her employer will soon eliminate prescription coverage from retiree's health care.   She has to inject herself with it every other day for the rest of her life or... not survive.  The drug company doesn't care.  After all, I'm sure they'd tell us they're only paying for the years of research to develop the drug.  I feel like I should send them a tip every month because I'm sure they're really hurting financially.  B.S. !!!!!   How many people do you know who could afford $74,510.95 a year for our two prescriptions?   I don't personally know anyone but I'll bet that would be pocket change for several people at several different drug companies.  
Posted 5/29/2012 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
One thing you can do is get your doctor to over prescribe your Asocal, herby reducing the cost>
I asked my doc to do so & he has me on 12 a day when I only take 2-3. He also gives me samples whenever possible.

Asocol is one example of a ridiculously expensive drug when there really is no choice, most of us have to take it.
Posted 5/30/2012 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the idea !   I could use any other suggestions if anyone has any.
Posted 5/30/2012 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
Forrdogs,

I think this is my longest rant on the subject.

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=2169778

I'm in the same boat as you. about $300 a month for brand Asacol, but I pay about $55 a month for generic Asacol from Canada.
Posted 6/3/2012 9:41 AM (GMT 0)
What is the address for the Canadian mail pharmacy. How do you go about doing it? Do they honor prescriptions from American doctors? Do you need a prescription?

I am currently paying $670 a month for Asacol and would obviously welcome a cheaper solution.

 

Posted 6/3/2012 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
YSMACK,

Just follow the link I posted above. It's all there. BigMountainDrugs.com is the pharmacy.
Posted 6/3/2012 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Noah Bodie. Will do.
Posted 6/6/2012 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all so much for this information. I have been paying nearly $450 a month for this medication (800ml 2x daily).
Posted 7/18/2012 6:00 AM (GMT 0)
I just picked up a 60 day supply of Asacal HD for $669 out of pocket. I always love to see the look on the pharmacists face..."uh, do you have a coupon or something?"
Posted 8/21/2012 6:55 PM (GMT 0)

Generic Asacol HDThere are currently no generic Asacol HD products licensed for sale. The medication is under the protection of patents that prevent any companies from manufacturing a generic version of the medicine. The earliest predictable date that a generic version could become available is August 2013, when the first patent expires.Generic Asacol HD: An Overview

Asacol HD® (mesalamine) is a prescription medication approved for treating ulcerative colitis. It belongs to a group of medications known as aminosalicylates.

 

This medication is made by Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, Inc. It is currently under the protection of patents that prevent any generic Asacol HD from being manufactured in the United States.

 

When Will Generic Asacol HD Be Available?

The first patent for Asacol HD currently expires in August 2013. This is the earliest predictable date that a generic version of Asacol HD could become available.

 

However, there are other circumstances that could come up to extend or shorten the exclusivity period of the medication. This could include such things as lawsuits or other patents for specific Asacol HD uses. Once Asacol HD goes off patent, there may be several companies that will manufacture a generic Asacol HD drug.

 

Is Mesalamine a Generic Asacol HD?

The answer is no. Mesalamine is the active ingredient in Asacol HD (as well as several other medications) but is not a generic version of the medicine.

 

What can be confusing is that, oftentimes, the active ingredient of any drug is referred to as the "generic name." The generic name is different from a generic version of a medicine. In order for there to be a generic version of a medicine, the original medicine must have gone off patent and another company besides the original manufacturer must make the product.

 

There are no other mesalamine products that are equivalent to Asacol HD. It should also be noted that taking two regular strength (400 mg) Asacol tablets is not equivalent to taking one Asacol HD (800 mg) tablet, since the medications are absorbed differently.

Posted 8/22/2012 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jano, I sent you a personal email to your business address if you want to take a look and get back with me.
Posted 9/29/2016 8:29 PM (GMT 0)
Asacol generic is available northwestpharmacy.com Canada
No generic available in US....
Savings is 60-75%

Reason for posting is high deductible insurance plans in Us do NOT allow you to apply
Canada drug purchases to deductible. The reason for this is your insurance company
drug benefit manager ( example CVS/Caremark) contractual agreement with insurance plan
prohibits Canada Drug purchases..... It is so wrong, the drug companies and drug benefit managers
wealth is enormous and the $$$ they spend lobbying allows this restriction to strangle
all US consumers....Billions of $$$ profit at stake here...

No better example is Epipen ( Mylan labs)... it has always been available from Canada at 79.00 for 1,
144.00 for 2 while list in US went up 500% in 6yrs to 608.00...
6 years ago Epipen was 72.00 Northwest pharmacy.com... so its up 10% in 6yrs v.s 500% in US

I encourage everyone to lobby to put an end to the collusion of the drug companies, benefit managers
and insurance companies blocking consumer rights to reduce cost
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