A patent currently prohibits any generic Xopenex from being manufactured. Companies may claim to sell it, but these medications are fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous. The earliest date that generic Xopenex could become available is January 2010, when the patent expires. However, certain events could extend that exclusivity period, such as other patents for specific uses of Xopenex or lawsuits.
Generic Xopenex: An Overview
Xopenex® (
levalbuterol hydrochloride) is a prescription medication used to treat
asthma and other similar respiratory problems. It is part of a class of asthma drugs known as beta-adrenergic receptor agonists, or beta agonists for short.
Xopenex is manufactured by Sepracor, Inc. It is currently under the protection of a patent that prevents any generic Xopenex from being manufactured in the United States. Yet, if you search the Internet for "generic Xopenex," you may find a number of companies selling it. The fact is that these medicines are fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous. There may be generic Xopenex available from another country, but there is really no way of knowing if you are getting genuine Xopenex or not. Therefore, you should not buy any so-called generic versions until there is an approved generic form of the drug available.
When Will Generic Xopenex Be Available?
The first patent for Xopenex currently expires in January 2010. This is the earliest date that a generic version of Xopenex could become available. However, circumstances could arise that extend the exclusivity period beyond 2010. This could include things such as other patents for specific
Xopenex uses or lawsuits. Once the medication goes off-patent, several companies will likely begin manufacturing a generic Xopenex drug.
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