Generic Duetact

When the patent for Duetact expires in 2011, several companies are expected to manufacture a generic Duetact medicine. While some companies claim to sell a generic version of the drug now, these medicines are substandard and may be potentially dangerous. It's best to wait until an approved generic Duetact becomes available. If your insurance company doesn't cover Duetact, it may cover the two medicines used in the drug separately.

Duetact Drug Info

Generic Duetact: An Overview

Duetact^® (pioglitazone and glimepiride) is a prescription medication that has been licensed to treat type 2 diabetes. It is a combination of two different diabetes drugs: pioglitazone hydrochloride (Actos^®) and glimepiride (Amaryl^®).

Duetact is manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals. It is currently under the protection of a patent that prevents any generic Duetact from being manufactured in the United States. Yet, if you search the Internet for "generic Duetact," you may find a number of companies selling it. These medicines are fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous. There may be generic Duetact available from another country, but there is really no way of knowing if you are getting genuine Duetact or not. You should not buy any generic Duetact until there is an approved version available in the United States.

When Will Generic Duetact Be Available?

The first patent for Duetact expires in 2011.

This is the earliest possible date that a generic version of the medication could become available. However, other circumstances could extend the exclusivity period beyond 2011. This could include other new patents for specific Duetact uses or lawsuits. Once Duetact goes off-patent, several companies will likely begin manufacturing a generic Duetact drug.

(Generic Duetact Continued: Page 2)