Generic nateglinide is currently unavailable because it is protected by a patent. The patent expires in 2009; however, other circumstances could come up and extend that date past that time, including lawsuits or other patents for specific uses of the medication. Be aware that any company claiming to sell a "generic nateglinide" is selling a medication that is fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous.
Generic Nateglinide: An Overview
Nateglinide (
Starlix®) is a prescription medication that has been licensed to treat
type 2 diabetes when diet and exercise alone do not control blood sugar enough. It is part of a class of
diabetes drugs called meglitinides. These help the
pancreas make more insulin in order to lower blood sugar following a meal.
Nateglinide is manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals. It is currently under the protection of a patent that prevents any generic nateglinide from being manufactured in the United States. Yet if you search the Internet for "generic nateglinide," you may find a number of companies selling it. The fact is that these medicines are fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous. There may be generic nateglinide available from another country, but there is really no way of knowing if you are getting genuine nateglinide or not. You should not buy any so-called generic versions of the drug until an approved version is available.
When Will Generic Nateglinide Be Available?
The first patent for nateglinide currently expires in 2009. This is the earliest possible date that a generic version could become available. However, circumstances could come up to extend the exclusivity period beyond 2009. This could include things such as other patents for specific nateglinide uses or lawsuits. Once the drug goes off-patent, several companies will likely begin manufacturing generic nateglinide.
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