Generic Forteo

At this time, there are no generic Forteo products available on the market. The osteoporosis medication is currently under the protection of a patent that prevents any generic versions from being manufactured. As soon as the patent expires in December 2018, however, other drug companies can begin making generic Forteo products.

 

Generic Forteo: An Overview

Forteo™ (teriparatide) is an osteoporosis medication available by prescription only. It is a synthetic version of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and must be taken by injection.
 
Forteo is made by Eli Lilly and Company. It is currently under the protection of a patent that prevents any generic Forteo from being manufactured in the United States.
 

When Will Generic Forteo Be Available?

The first patent for Forteo currently expires in December 2018. This is the earliest possible date that a generic version of the drug could become available. However, other circumstances could come up to extend the exclusivity period beyond 2008. This could include such things as other patents for specific Forteo uses or lawsuits. Once the patent expires, several companies will likely begin manufacturing generic Forteo products.
 

Is Teriparatide the Same as Generic Forteo?

No -- teriparatide is the active ingredient in Forteo, but is not 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.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;