Is a Generic Version of Lovaza Available?
Lovaza is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. It is currently under the protection of exclusivity rights that prevent any generic Lovaza from being manufactured in the United States.
When Will Generic Lovaza Be Available?
GlaxoSmithKline holds the exclusive rights to market Lovaza until at least June 2010. This is the earliest predictable date that a generic version could become available. However, there are other circumstances that could come up to extend or shorten the exclusivity period of Lovaza. This could include such things as lawsuits or other patents for specific
Lovaza uses.
Is Fish Oil a Generic for Lovaza?
It is important to point out that non-prescription fish oil supplements are not equivalent to Lovaza.
Lovaza is the only FDA-approved prescription fish oil medication.
Some people wonder why they should take Lovaza, when there are inexpensive non-prescription fish oil
dietary supplements that seem to be just as good. There are several advantages of Lovaza over such supplements.
For example, it's important to note that the cheaper supplements almost always have a low concentration of EPA and
DHA, regardless of the strength on the label. This can be misleading; it may take numerous 1000 mg supplement capsules to have the same amount of EPA and DHA as a single Lovaza 1000 mg capsule.
When this is taken into consideration, much of the cost advantage of the inexpensive supplements is lost.
Perhaps more importantly, dietary supplements are not regulated as strictly as prescription drugs (like Lovaza). In fact, they are regulated as foods. This means that some supplements could potentially be contaminated or could have less (or more) of the active ingredients than stated on the label.
Lovaza is made using a 5-step refinement process that removes impurities, ensuring a safe and pure product. Also, this refinement process removes some of the fish oil components that cause the "fish burp," and it is thought that Lovaza is probably less likely to cause the fish burp, compared to the supplements.
Additionally, many prescription insurance plans cover Lovaza; virtually none cover non-prescription dietary supplements.
