Generic Factive

Can I Buy Generic Factive?

Factive^® (gemifloxacin mesylate) is a prescription antibiotic medication used to treat certain types of pneumonia and bronchitis. It belongs to a group of medications called fluoroquinolones, or quinolones for short.

 

Factive is made by Cornerstone Therapeutics, Inc. It is currently under the protection of a patent that prevents any generic Factive from being manufactured in the United States.

 

However, if you search the Internet for "generic Factive," you may find a number of companies selling it. The fact is that these medicines may be fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous. There may be generic Factive available from another country, but there is really no way of knowing if you are getting a genuine product. Therefore, you should not buy any generic Factive until there is an approved generic available.

 

When Will a Generic Version Be Available?

The first patent for Factive is set to expire in June 2015. This is the earliest predictable date that a generic version could become available.

 

However, other circumstances could come up to extend or shorten this exclusivity period. This could include such things as lawsuits or other patents for new Factive uses. Once the patent expires, there may be several companies that manufacture a generic Factive drug.

 

Is Gemifloxacin a Generic Factive?

No -- gemifloxacin is the active ingredient in Factive, but it is not a generic version of it. What can be confusing is that the active ingredient of a drug is often 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 drug, the original medication must have gone off-patent and another company besides the original manufacturer must make the product.