MAR-ACARBOSE 50 MG — DIN 02494078
ACARBOSE : 50 MG · MARCAN PHARMACEUTICALS INC · TABLET · wholesale supply in Canada
Health Canada status: MARKETED
What is MAR-ACARBOSE?
MAR-ACARBOSE 50 MG contains ACARBOSE : 50 MG. It is listed in the Health Canada Drug Product Database under DIN 02494078, held by MARCAN PHARMACEUTICALS INC, supplied as TABLET for ORAL administration. Health Canada currently lists it as marketed, status dated 05-Feb-2020. Nexara Health is a licensed Canadian wholesale distributor (DEL 3-002896-A) and can source this product for hospitals, pharmacies and clinics. Availability and lead time are confirmed per order.
What is MAR-ACARBOSE used for?
MAR-ACARBOSE (acarbose), as monotherapy, is indicated as an adjunct to prescribed diet for the management of blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who are inadequately controlled by diet alone. MAR-ACARBOSE may also be used in combination with either a sulfonylurea, metformin or insulin to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, who are inadequately controlled on diet, exercise and either a sulfonylurea, metformin or insulin alone. The effect of MAR-ACARBOSE in enhancing glycemic control is additive to that of sulfonylureas, metformin or insulin when used in combination, because of its different mechanism of action. In initiating treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus, diet should be emphasized as the primary form of treatment. Caloric restriction and weight loss are essential in the obese diabetic patient. Proper dietary management alone may be effective in controlling blood glucose and symptoms of hyperglycemia. The importance of regular physical activity when appropriate should also be stressed. If this treatment program fails to result in adequate glycemic control, the use of MAR-ACARBOSE should be considered. The use of MAR-ACARBOSE must be viewed by both the physician and patient as a treatment in addition to diet, and not as a substitute for diet or as a convenient mechanism for avoiding dietary restraint. MAR-ACARBOSE should be considered as complementary to dietary therapy and physical exercise before resorting to other forms of treatment, such as oral hypoglycemics.
Authorized indication as written in the Health Canada product monograph. For healthcare professionals and licensed purchasers; this is not medical advice.
How much does Acarbose cost around the world?
Acarbose is listed on 7 of the national price registers Nexara ingests. Each country publishes on a different basis, so figures are not comparable with one another — or with a Canadian wholesale price.
What a market publishes matters more than the number it publishes. Australia publishes a ex-manufacturer; Brazil publishes a preco fabrica (ex-factory ceiling); Morocco publishes a PPV (public price). Comparing an ex-factory ceiling against a pharmacy public price tells you nothing about either, and comparing either against a Canadian landed cost tells you less.
| Market | Price basis published there | Brands | Packs listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | acquisition | 3 | 12 |
| Australia | ex-manufacturer | 2 | 8 |
| Saudi Arabia | public | 5 | 5 |
| Morocco | PPV (public price) | 1 | 4 |
| Brazil | preco fabrica (ex-factory ceiling) | 1 | 2 |
| United Kingdom | hospital | 2 | 2 |
| South Africa | single exit price | 2 | 2 |
35 pack listings across 16 brand entries and 7 price bases, refreshed 08 Sep 2026. Ranges span every Acarbose pack in that market, so a high figure is usually a larger pack rather than the same product.
Canada publishes no comparable public list price. For a delivered Canadian price on a licensed account, verify your licence — it takes about a minute.
Is there a generic Acarbose in Canada, and who makes it?
Every market authorization holder with a Canadian DIN for this molecule, and how many of their listings Health Canada currently shows as marketed.
3 holders have a Canadian DIN containing Acarbose, across 6 DINs, of which 2 are currently marketed. Marketed count is the number that matters: an approval that is not marketed cannot be bought.
| Market authorization holder | DINs | Marketed | Brand names | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARCAN PHARMACEUTICALS INC | 2 | 2 | MAR-ACARBOSE | Sourceable in Canada |
| BAYER INC | 2 | 0 | GLUCOBAY | No marketed DIN |
| MINT PHARMACEUTICALS INC | 2 | 0 | MINT-ACARBOSE | No marketed DIN |
Health Canada’s Drug Product Database does not flag which listing is the originator and which are subsequent-entry products, so Nexara does not label them here. Interchangeability is determined provincially, not federally — confirm for your province before a formulary switch. Nexara can confirm which of these is actually obtainable, and on what lead time, per order.
How is it supplied and stored?
Pack configuration, storage class and the handling constraints that drive cold-chain planning. One DIN can cover more than one pack size, and the pack — not the DIN — is what gets priced, shipped and invoiced.
| Strength on the label | 50 MG |
|---|---|
| Dosage form | TABLET |
| Route | ORAL |
| Pack configuration (monograph) | MAR-ACARBOSE 50 and 100 mg tablets are available in cartons of 120 tablets (12 blisters of 10 tablets each) and HDPE bottles of 100 tablets and 500 tablets. |
| Storage | Storage should be between 15°C and 25°C. Keep the tablets in dry place. Keep out of reach and sight of children. At storage conditions up to 25°C and below 60% relative humidity, the unpacked tablets can be stored for up to two weeks. At higher temperatures and/or relative humidity, discoloration can occur in tablets that are not in the pack. The tablets should therefore not be removed from the foil until immediately before use. |
Before an order line is unambiguous Nexara needs the strength, the pack size and the presentation, because this listing covers more than one of them.
Substance and classification
| Active substance | Acarbose |
|---|---|
| ATC code | A10BF01 |
| AHFS class | 68:20.02 |
| Biosimilar biologic | No |
Health Canada record and identifiers
The regulatory facts straight from the Drug Product Database, plus every identifier form Nexara accepts on a purchase order. A DIN written without its leading zeros is the commonest reason an order line fails to match.
| DIN (8-digit, as used in ordering) | 02494078 |
|---|---|
| DIN (unpadded, as printed on some documents) | 2494078 |
| Brand name | MAR-ACARBOSE |
| Generic / active ingredient | ACARBOSE : 50 MG |
| Market authorization holder | MARCAN PHARMACEUTICALS INC |
| Health Canada schedule | Prescription |
| ATC code | A10BF01 |
| ATC anatomical main group | A — Alimentary tract and metabolism |
| ATC therapeutic subgroup | A10BF |
| Current status | MARKETED |
| Status date | 05-Feb-2020 |
| Original market date | 2020-02-05 00:00:00 |
| Status source | Live Health Canada DPD sync |
Verify on the primary sources
How is it administered?
During treatment initiation and dose titration, two-hour postprandial plasma glucose should be used to determine the therapeutic response to MAR-ACARBOSE and identify the minimum effective dose for the patient. Thereafter, glycosylated hemoglobin should be measured at intervals of approximately three months. The therapeutic goal should be to decrease both postprandial plasma glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels to optimal or near optimal by using the lowest effective dose of MAR-ACARBOSE, either as monotherapy or in combination with sulfonylureas, metformin, or insulin. Sulfonylurea agents or insulin may cause hypoglycemia. Therefore, MAR-ACARBOSE given in combination with a sulfonylurea or insulin may also cause hypoglycemia. If hypoglycemia occurs, appropriate adjustment in the sulfonylurea or insulin dosage should be made. Dosage of MAR-ACARBOSE must be individualized on the basis of both effectiveness and tolerance while not exceeding 100 mg t.i.d. MAR-ACARBOSE should be started at a low dose, with gradual dose escalation as described below, both to reduce gastrointestinal side effects and to permit identification of the minimum dose required for adequate glycemic control of the patient. The usual starting dosage of MAR-ACARBOSE is 50 mg given orally once daily. After 1-2 weeks, the dosage should be increased to 50 mg b.i.d. with a subsequent increase to 50 mg t.i.d. after a further 1-2 weeks. Each dose should be taken with the first bite of a main meal. MAR-ACARBOSE must always be taken together with food. Once a maintenance dose of 50 mg t.i.d. has been reached, some patients may benefit from further increasing the dosage to 100 mg t.i.d. The maintenance dose ranges from 50 mg t.i.d. to 100 mg t.i.d. The dosage of MAR-ACARBOSE should be adjusted at 4-8 week intervals based on two-hour postprandial glucose levels and on tolerance. Consideration should be given to lowering the dose if no further reduction in postprandial glucose or glycosylated hemoglobin levels is observed after titration to 100 mg t.i.d. Once an effective and tolerated dosage is established, it should be maintained. Dosages above 100 mg t.i.d. are not recommended. If a dose has been missed, no effect on blood glucose and serum insulin can be expected. Should a dose be missed, the patient should not take a tablet until their next meal.
Included because it drives pack selection and wastage. Consult the monograph.
Contraindications
Patients who are hypersensitive to acarbose or to any ingredient in the formulation or component of the container. MAR-ACARBOSE is contraindicated in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis. It is also contraindicated in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, colonic ulceration, partial intestinal obstruction or in patients predisposed to intestinal obstruction. In addition, MAR-ACARBOSE should not be used in patients who have chronic intestinal diseases associated with marked disorders of digestion or absorption and in patients who suffer from states which may deteriorate as a result of increased gas formation in the intestine, e.g. larger hernias.
Warnings and precautions
MAR-ACARBOSE delays glucose absorption and lowers hyperglycemia following meals. Regular intake of MAR-ACARBOSE should not be interrupted without the physician's knowledge, since such interruption can cause a rise in blood glucose. In postmarketing experience with acarbose, reports of hepatic adverse events have been received, including reports of liver failure, liver transplant, and fulminant hepatitis, with or without fatal outcome. The mechanism is unknown, but MAR-ACARBOSE may contribute to a multifactorial pathophysiology of liver injury, particularly in combination with impaired metabolic control and/or concomitant antidiabetic medications. MAR-ACARBOAE may give rise to elevations of serum transaminases and, in rare instances, hyperbilirubinemia. If elevations are observed, a reduction in dosage or withdrawal of therapy may be indicated, particularly if the elevations persist. Liver enzyme monitoring should be considered during the first 6 to 12 months of treatment. In patients with a known history of liver impairment or liver disease, liver enzymes should be measured prior to the start of MAR-ACARBOSE therapy and monitored on a regular basis during the first year. If a clinical deterioration or increases in levels of hepatic enzymes are detected, discontinuation of treatment with acarbose should be considered.
What can be used instead?
Alternatives on every axis a buyer actually considers — the same molecule in another presentation, the same class, an adjacent class, or a fixed-dose combination. Every row is led by the marketed DIN count, because that is what can be bought this week.
1 · Same molecule, other Canadian presentations
2 of 6 Canadian DINs for this molecule are currently marketed. Marketed products are listed first.
| Product | Strength | Form | Holder | Health Canada status | DIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAR-ACARBOSE | 100 MG | TABLET | MARCAN PHARMACEUTICALS INC | MARKETED | 02494086 |
| GLUCOBAY | 50 MG | TABLET | BAYER INC | CANCELLED POST MARKET | 02190885 |
| GLUCOBAY | 100 MG | TABLET | BAYER INC | CANCELLED POST MARKET | 02190893 |
| MINT-ACARBOSE | 50 MG | TABLET | MINT PHARMACEUTICALS INC | DORMANT | 02493780 |
| MINT-ACARBOSE | 100 MG | TABLET | MINT PHARMACEUTICALS INC | DORMANT | 02493799 |
2 · Same class — other molecules in ATC A10BF
| Molecule | Canadian brands | DINs | Marketed | Sourceable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acarbose | GLUCOBAY · MAR-ACARBOSE · MINT-ACARBOSE | 6 | 2 | Yes |
A molecule with zero marketed DINs cannot be sourced domestically, however many approvals it holds — if one of these sits on a formulary or in an older protocol, that is the line to check.
3 · Adjacent classes in ATC A10B
| ATC subgroup | Molecules | DINs | Marketed |
|---|---|---|---|
| A10BD | Combinations Of Oral Blood Glucose Lowering Drugs · Glimepiride And Rosiglitazone · Linagliptin And Empagliflozin · Metformin And Alogliptin · Metformin And Canagliflozin · +8 more | 123 | 67 |
| A10BH | Alogliptin · Linagliptin · Saxagliptin · Sitagliptin | 91 | 63 |
| A10BA | Metformin | 122 | 45 |
| A10BK | Canagliflozin · Dapagliflozin · Empagliflozin · Ertugliflozin | 42 | 30 |
| A10BX | Nateglinide · Repaglinide · Tirzepatide | 54 | 30 |
| A10BB | Acetohexamide · Chlorpropamide · Glibenclamide · Gliclazide · Glimepiride · +1 more | 112 | 23 |
| A10BG | Pioglitazone · Rosiglitazone | 98 | 15 |
| A10BJ | Albiglutide · Dulaglutide · Exenatide · Liraglutide · Lixisenatide · +1 more | 34 | 13 |
Not clinical advice. These tables describe what can be supplied in Canada, not what should be prescribed. Substitution within or across classes is a prescriber and pharmacist decision, and interchangeability is determined provincially.
What else is MAR-ACARBOSE called?
Also recorded in Canada as: acarbose 50 MG Oral Tablet [Precose] (US), acarbose 100 MG Oral Tablet [Precose] (US), acarbose 25 MG Oral Tablet [Precose] (US), acarbose 50 MG Oral Tablet (US), acarbose 100 MG Oral Tablet (US), acarbose 25 MG Oral Tablet (US), ACARBOSE (US), Precose (US), Glucobay (GLOBAL), Prandase (EU), Acarbose (GLOBAL), Glucobay (UK), Glucobay (IN), Asucrose (IN), Rebose (IN).
The same molecule, Acarbose, is registered under other names elsewhere. Buyers and prescribers searching from outside Canada — or working from a foreign prescription or tender document — often know it by one of these:
| Name | Script | Registered in |
|---|---|---|
| Acarbose Viatris | Latin | Australia |
| GLUCOR | Latin | Morocco |
| GLYBOSAY | Latin | Australia |
| AGLUCOSE | Latin | Brazil |
Names are taken from national medicine registers and published price lists. A product registered abroad is not authorized for sale in Canada unless it holds its own DIN; import is possible only through the routes Health Canada permits.
How can I get it?
Nexara Health supplies this product to licensed Canadian buyers — pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, licensed distributors, and clinical trial sponsors or their CROs. We confirm stock, pack size, expiry and pricing at the time of quotation. If the product is on backorder or in shortage, we identify equivalent alternatives and import options where permitted.
Ordering questions
Who can buy this from Nexara?
Licensed entities only. Nexara holds Health Canada establishment licence DEL 3-002896-A and ships only to a licensed address. Patients and unlicensed buyers are routed to a partner pharmacy.
Is there a minimum order?
Yes, set per product line and per pack multiple rather than on the order total, so you are never asked to buy a part-pack. The minimum for this line is confirmed with your quote.
What is the lead time?
Confirmed per order at quotation, and it depends on current stock position and whether the product is in shortage.
Why is there no price on this page?
Nexara quotes a delivered Canadian price per order, against a verified licence. Foreign list prices are published on incompatible bases and are not a guide to what any buyer can obtain here, so this page shows which markets list the molecule and on what basis, and nothing more.
Can Nexara supply this for a clinical trial?
Yes — comparator and background-therapy supply, including sourcing from other markets where a Canadian pack will not satisfy the protocol. Clinical trial supply.