Generic Tekturna

At this time, no generic Tekturna (aliskiren) products are available in the United States. The first patent for the medication is set to expire in April 2015, which is the earliest predictable date a generic version could become available. If you search the Internet, you may find companies claiming to sell generic Tekturna. However, these drugs may be fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous.

 

Generic Tekturna: An Overview

Tekturna® (aliskiren hemifumarate) is a prescription medication approved to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It is classified as a renin inhibitor and is the first medication in this class.
 
Tekturna is made by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. It is currently under the protection of a patent that prevents any generic Tekturna from being manufactured in the United States. However, if you search the Internet for "generic Tekturna," you may find a number of companies claiming to sell it. The fact is that these medicines may be fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous. Generic Tekturna may be available from another country, but there is no way of knowing if you are getting genuine Tekturna. Therefore, you should not buy any generic versions until an approved version is available.
 

When Will Generic Tekturna Be Available?

The first patent for Tekturna is set to expire in April 2015. This is the earliest predictable date that a generic version of the drug could become available. However, other circumstances could come up to extend or shorten the exclusivity period. This could include such things as other patents for specific Tekturna uses or lawsuits.
 

Is Aliskiren the Same as Generic Tekturna?

No -- aliskiren is the active ingredient in Tekturna, but it is not a generic version of it.
 What can be confusing is that, oftentimes, the active ingredient of a drug is referred to as the "generic name." The generic name is different from a generic version of a medicine. 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 make the product. All medications have generic names; not all medications have generic versions available.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;