Information on this page is intended for Ireland healthcare professionals only and may contain promotional material
This page is only intended for Irish healthcare professionals.
Adverse event reporting can be found near the bottom of the webpage. Click the bottom right button for Prescribing Information.
How does ASACOLON 1600mg work?
Asacolon delivers up to 4.8g of Mesalazine 1600mg throughout the entire colon in three tablets for the induction of remission of ulcerative colitis1
1) ASACOLON® 1600mg tablet releases mesalazine in the caecum2,3
2) Mesalazine spreads along the ascending and transverse colon2,3
3) Mesalazine continues to spread to the distal colon2,3
Scintigraphy images taken 4, 6 and 13 hours after a patient with ulcerative colitis took an Asacolon® 1600mg tablet from a study of 26 participants2,3
Innovative Asacolon 1600mg ASACOLON coating:
ASACOLON coating is designed to accurately deliver mesalazine 1600mg throughout the entire colon, including distally*2,4
The two triggers in the outer layer work together to induce mesalazine release within the terminal ileum and caecum1,2,4
- pH-sensitive polymer dissolves at pH>7.01,2,4
- Enzyme-sensitive polymer is broken down by colonic bacteria independent of pH acting as a fail-safe1,2,4
The inner alkaline layer accelerates mesalazine release and complete tablet disintegration1,2,4
*Image for illustrative purposes only. Tablets not at actual size
ASACOLON 1600mg works throughout the whole colon, including distally
In a post-hoc analysis of an open label extension study over a period of 38 weeks, it was found that ASACOLON 1600mg is equally effective in patients with different disease extents, including distal UC5
Continued therapy should be carefully considered in subjects not responding by week 8. ASACOLON 1600mg tablets can be used for the maintenance of remission with 1.6g once daily.
The primary endpoint of the open label extension was clinical remission (in clinical remission: stool frequency and rectal bleeding subscores of 0). At week 38, a total of 43.9% patients were in clinical remission, including 70.3%, 33.9, and 30.5% of patients in the 1.6 g/d, 3.2 g/d and 4.8 g/d dose groups, respectively6
Report a side effect
Adverse events should be reported. Reporting forms and information can be found at:
https://www.hpra.ie/report-an-issue/medicines-for-human-use/side-effects
Adverse events should also be reported to Tillotts Pharma UK Ltd on:
Tel: +353 1 2942015
Email: Pvireland@tillotts.com
- 1.Asacolon® 1600mg Modified Release Tablets – Summary of Product Characteristics.
- 2.Varum F et al. Int J Pharm 2022; 625: 122055.
- 3.Data on file, Tillotts Pharma UK Limited. [OPTICORE® scintigraphy data from Varum et al 2022 visualised as cyan heatmap – December 2023].
- 4.Varum F et al. Int J Pharm 2020; 583: 119372.
- 5.D’Haens GR et al. Inflamm Intest Dis 2023; 8: 51–59.
- 6.D’Haens GR et al. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2017; 46(3): 292–302.
PM-DIF200-IE-00020 | October 2025
