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 April 2011; 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 could become available.

Advair Inhaler

Is a Generic Version of Advair Available?

Advair^® (fluticasone and salmeterol) is a prescription medication used to treat airway spasms (bronchospasms) caused by asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It 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. Currently, the company holds the exclusive rights to make and market Advair in the United States.

When Will a Generic Version Be Available?

GlaxoSmithKline has been granted the exclusive rights to market the Advair Diskus until at least April 2011 and 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.