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Pulmicort® (budesonide inhalation) is a prescription medication that has been licensed to prevent asthma attacks. It belongs to a group of medications known as inhaled corticosteroids.
Pulmicort is manufactured by AstraZeneca. It comes in two different forms: Pulmicort Respules and Pulmicort Flexhalers. Generic Pulmicort Respules are now available, but Pulmicort Flexhalers are not yet available in generic form.
At this time, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA and Watson Pharmaceuticals make generic versions of Pulmicort Respules, available in the following strengths:
- Budesonide inhalation suspension 0.25 mg per 2 mL vial
- Budesonide inhalation suspension 0.5 mg per 2 mL vial.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers these generic products to be equivalent to the brand-name version.
The first patent for Pulmicort Flexhalers currently expires in January 2018. This is the earliest predictable date that a generic version of Pulmicort Flexhalers could become available. However, there are other circumstances that could come up to extend or shorten the exclusivity period. This could include such things as lawsuits or other patents for specific Pulmicort uses.
Generic Pulmicort Respules were available before the patents for Pulmicort Respules had expired, due to a lawsuit. It is possible that something similar may happen with the Flexhalers as well.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
Last updated/reviewed:
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