Generic Januvia: An Overview
Januvia is manufactured by Merck & Co, Inc. It is currently under the protection of a patent that prevents any generic Januvia from being manufactured in the United States. Yet, if you search the Internet for "generic Januvia," you may find a number of companies selling it. These medicines are fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous. While there may be generic Januvia available from another country, there is really no way of knowing if such products are genuine. Therefore, you should not buy any generic Januvia until there is an approved generic available.
When Will Generic Januvia Be Available?
The first patent for Januvia currently expires in 2017. This is the earliest that a generic version of Januvia could become available. However, there are circumstances that could come up to extend the exclusivity period for Januvia beyond 2017. This could include things such as other patents for specific
Januvia uses or lawsuits. Once Januvia goes off patent, there may be several companies that manufacture a generic Januvia drug.
Is Sitagliptin a Generic Januvia?
No.
Sitagliptin is the active ingredient in Januvia, but it is not a generic version of Januvia. What can be confusing is that, often, the active ingredient of a brand-name 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) would make the product.
