Generic Boniva: An Overview
Boniva is made jointly by GlaxoSmithKline and Roche Laboratories. It is currently under the protection of a patent that prevents any generic Boniva from being manufactured in the United States. Yet if you search the Internet for "generic Boniva," you may find a number of companies selling it. The fact is that these medicines may be fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous. Generic Boniva may be available from another country, but there is really no way of knowing if you are getting genuine Boniva or not. You should not buy any generic Boniva until an approved version is available.
When Will Generic Boniva Be Available?
The first patent for Boniva currently expires in March 2012. This is the earliest possible date that a generic version of Boniva could become available. However, other circumstances could come up to extend the exclusivity period beyond 2012. This could include such things as other patents for specific
Boniva uses or lawsuits. Once the patent expires, several companies will likely begin manufacturing generic Boniva.
Is Ibandronate the Same as Generic Boniva?
No -- ibandronate sodium is the active ingredient in Boniva, 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.
