There is currently no generic Climara Pro approved in the United States. A patent prevents any generic versions of the medication from being made until October 2010, when the patent expires. However, certain circumstances could come up that would delay or speed up the availability of generic Climara Pro, such as lawsuits or other patents for specific uses.
Generic Climara Pro: An Overview
Climara Pro® (estradiol/levonorgestrel patch) is a prescription estrogen and progestin hormone replacement medication. It is approved for the following uses:
- Treating menopausal symptoms, such as night sweats and hot flashes
- Preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
Climara Pro is made by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc. It is currently under the protection of a patent that prevents any
generic Climara Pro from being sold in the United States.
When Will Generic Climara Pro Be Available?
The first patent for Climara Pro currently expires in October 2010. This is the earliest predictable date that a generic version of Climara Pro could become available. However, other circumstances could come up to extend or shorten the exclusivity period. This could include such things as lawsuits or other patents for specific
Climara Pro uses. Once the patent expires, several companies will probably begin manufacturing a generic Climara Pro drug.
Is Estradiol/Levonorgestrel a Generic Version of Climara Pro?
No -- estradiol and levonorgestrel are the active ingredients in Climara Pro (and other medications); they are not a generic version of Climara Pro. 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.
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