Posted by fachad on March 12, 2002, at 9:15:09
In reply to pharmaceutical news flash, posted by Elizabeth on March 12, 2002, at 7:33:48
Woohoo! I had also recently discovered that Wellbutrin was available as generic.
I was hoping you or someone else could tell us a way to find out when drug patents would expire.
There are so many things that happen when a patent is about to expire.
First, you get a wave of SDNPs (Same-Drug, New Patent) based on new indications, like Sarafem, Zyban, etc.
Then, you get a much-needed wave of SDNPs based on long acting delivery systems. Examples include Prozac Weekly, Wellbutrin SR, Concerta, Metadate.
I am personally holding a bottle of Dom in reserve, and will pop the cork and celebrate (as I'm sure you will too) when Ambien SR comes out! That's going to be the best thing since sliced bread. (Temazepam still sucks.)
And of course a huge cost savings for us consumers.
And an end to new research studies for that particular compound. No more free sample packs, or drug logo stamped post-it notes, popcorn, and paperweights, either.
Seriously, though, I've been trying to determine how to find out when the patents are up. It would strongly influence my choice of meds in many cases if I knew a patent was about to expire.
> Hi. Not sure if this has been posted already, but if it hasn't I thought it might interest some people to know that Wellbutrin immediate-release is now available in generics (as are Prozac and Buspar). Not sure how long this has been. But anyway, does anyone know of other brand name drugs whose patents will be expiring soon (and if so, when is the patent expected to expire)?
>
> Also, the only psychotropic meds that have TV commercials running at present (that I'm aware of) are Zoloft, Paxil, and Ambien. (Sorry, I just find these ads to be hilarious.) I think Buspar might have and Prozac did too until they went off patent. I guess that Prozac lives on as "Sarafem," but that's kind of silly. The Paxil-for-GAD and Zoloft-for-depression ones are the ones I've been seeing much lately. Nothing yet for Effexor or Remeron. Anyone seen any that I've missed? :-)
>
> -elizabeth
poster:fachad
thread:97579
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020307/msgs/97595.html