Generic Vytorin: An Overview
Vytorin® (
ezetimibe/simvastatin) is a prescription medication that has been licensed to treat
high cholesterol. It is manufactured by Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals (MSP) and is currently protected by patents that prevent any generic Vytorin from being manufactured.
Yet, if you search the Internet for "generic Vytorin," you will find a number of companies selling it. The fact is that these medicines could be fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous. You should not buy any so-called generic Vytorin until an approved version is available.
When Will a Generic Version Be Available?
The first patent for Vytorin is set to expire in March 2014. This is the earliest predictable date that a generic version of the drug could become available. However, other circumstances could come up to extend or shorten the exclusivity period. This could include such things as other patents for specific
Vytorin uses or lawsuits.
Is Ezetimibe or Simvastatin a Generic Vytorin?
No --
ezetimibe and
simvastatin are the active ingredients in Vytorin, but neither is a generic version of it. What can be confusing is that, oftentimes, the active ingredient of any 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.
