At this time, generic Viread is not available in the United States. The medication is currently under the protection of patents that prevent any generic versions from being produced. The earliest possible date that generic Viread products could become available is July 2017, when the first patent expires. However, patents for specific uses or lawsuits could delay the medication's availability.
Generic Viread: An Overview
Viread® (
tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) is a prescription
HIV and
AIDS medication. It is the first and only medication in a group of HIV drugs known as nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NtRTIs). It is approved for use only in combination with other HIV medications.
Viread is made by Gilead Sciences, Inc. It is currently under the protection of patents that prevent any generic Viread from being manufactured in the United States.
When Will Generic Viread Be Available?
The first patent for Viread currently expires in July 2017. 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 2017. This could include such things as other patents for specific
Viread uses or lawsuits. Once the patent expires, several companies will likely begin manufacturing a generic Viread drug.
Is Tenofovir the Same as Generic Viread?
No -- tenofovir is the active ingredient in Viread, 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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