A generic Avapro will not be available until 2011, when the patent expires. Depending on whether other patents or lawsuits arise, however, the exclusivity period may extend beyond this time. Until a generic Avapro product is approved, do not purchase any so-called generic forms of the medication from companies you find on the Internet, because these drugs are fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous.
Generic Avapro: An Overview
Avapro® (
irbesartan) is a prescription medication that has been licensed to treat
high blood pressure (
hypertension) and diabetic nephropathy. It is part of a class of drugs called angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs for short). As the name implies, Avapro blocks angiotensin II receptors. This decreases the effectiveness of a chemical known as angiotensin II, which normally causes blood vessels to narrow (constrict). By blocking the effects of angiotensin II, Avapro causes blood vessels to relax, which can
lower blood pressure.
Avapro is manufactured and sold through a partnership between two pharmaceutical companies -- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Sanofi-Aventis. It is currently protected by a patent that prevents any generic Avapro from being manufactured.
Yet, if you search the Internet for "generic Avapro," you may find a number of companies selling it. The fact is that these medicines are fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous. You should not buy any generic Avapro until an approved version is available.
When Will a Generic Avapro Be Available?
The first patent for Avapro currently expires in 2011.
This is the earliest date that a generic version of Avapro could become available. However, other circumstances could extend the exclusivity period beyond 2011. This could include such things as other patents for specific
Avapro uses or lawsuits. Once the drug goes off-patent, several companies may begin manufacturing a generic Avapro drug.
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