Generic Advair

A patent currently prohibits any generic Advair from being manufactured and sold in the United States. The first patent for the Advair Diskus expires in August 2008; and GlaxoSmithKline (the maker of Advair) has exclusive rights to market the Advair HFA inhaler until June 2009. These are the earliest dates that generic versions of Advair could become available. However, things such as other patents for specific Advair uses or lawsuits could come up to extend the exclusivity period of Advair beyond these dates.

 

An Overview of Generic Advair

Advair® (fluticasone and salmeterol) is a prescription medication used to treat airway spasms (called bronchospasms) caused by asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Advair comes in two forms -- the Advair Diskus® and the Advair® HFA inhaler. The Advair Diskus is approved to treat both asthma and COPD, while the Advair HFA inhaler is approved only for asthma.
 
Advair is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. It is currently under the protection of a patent that prevents any generic Advair from being manufactured in the United States.
 

When Will Generic Advair Be Available?

The first patent for the Advair Diskus currently expires in August 2008, and GlaxoSmithKline has been granted the exclusive rights to market the Advair HFA inhaler until at least June 2009. These are the earliest possible dates that generic versions of Advair could become available. However, there are other circumstances that could come up to extend the exclusivity period of Advair beyond these dates. These circumstances could include things such as other patents for specific Advair uses or lawsuits. Once Advair goes off patent, there may be several companies that manufacture a generic Advair drug.
 

Is Fluticasone and Salmeterol a Generic Advair?

The answer is no. Fluticasone and salmeterol are the active ingredients in Advair (and other medications), but they are not a generic version of Advair. What can be confusing is that, oftentimes, the active ingredient of a drug is referred to as its "generic name." But the generic name of a medicine is different from a generic version of it. 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 have made the product.
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;