An Overview of Generic Tamiflu
Tamiflu® (
oseltamivir phosphate) is a prescription medicine that is licensed for the prevention or treatment of
the flu in adults and children 1 year of age and older. Tamiflu is manufactured by Roche Pharmaceuticals and is currently protected by a patent that prevents any generic Tamiflu from being manufactured.
When Will There Be a Generic Tamiflu?
The patent for Tamiflu expires in 2016. It is expected that once it goes off-patent, several companies will begin manufacturing a generic
Tamiflu drug.
Is Oseltamivir Phosphate a Generic Tamiflu?
No. Oseltamivir phosphate is the active ingredient in Tamiflu, but it is not a generic Tamiflu. This can be confusing, because the active ingredient of any drug is often referred to as the "generic name." But the generic name is not the same as the generic version of a medicine. For there to be a generic version of a medicine, the original medicine has to first go off-patent, and then another company besides the original manufacturer must start making the product.
