Generic Caduet

A patent currently prevents any generic Caduet from being manufactured. Although the patents for the component drugs (amlodipine and atorvastatin) have expired, the patent for Caduet is not set to expire until August 2018. However, generic Caduet may be available sooner than this if a court decides that the current patent is invalid.

 

Generic Caduet: An Overview

Caduet® (amlodipine and atorvastatin) is a prescription product that combines two different medications: amlodipine (Norvasc®) and atorvastatin (Lipitor®). Caduet is made by Pfizer, Inc. It is currently under the protection of a patent that prevents any generic Caduet from being manufactured in the United States.
 

When Will Generic Caduet Be Available?

This is a difficult question and will most likely be answered in the courts. The patent for Norvasc has already expired, and the first patent for Lipitor is set to expire in March 2010. A patent for Caduet (the combination of the two) will expire in August 2018. Sometimes, patents for combination drugs are determined to be invalid, especially if it seemed obvious to combine the two medications (a patent must not be obvious). It will be up to a court to decide if combining Lipitor and Norvasc was obvious and if the combination patent is valid.
 
At this time, it is difficult to predict what exactly will happen. While combining Lipitor with Norvasc is an interesting and unexpected (and therefore perhaps unobvious) idea, patents for some similar combination medications have not always been upheld by the courts.
 

Is It Cheaper to Take Atorvastatin and Amlodipine Separately?

Currently, in most cases, taking Caduet is less expensive than taking the two medications separately (even if generic amlodipine is used).
 This may be especially true for many people with prescription insurance coverage, who will pay only one copay for Caduet, but will pay two copays if the medications are taken separately. Of course, this may not be true in all situations, so be sure to ask your pharmacist if you are concerned about the least expensive way to obtain your medications.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;