Generics

Does anyone know how you find out when the patent runs out on a drug?

I'm specifically wondering when Asacol will be available as a generic in the US. Also curious about Colazal, Remicade, Humira, etc.

Seems like anything worth anything with this disease is name-brand only! With the notable exception of azathioprine.

---

12 Asacol
100 mg Imuran
6 or 9 fish oil pills
4 Acidophilus pills
4 Caprylic Acid pills

Going to http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html and searching for "Asacol" brings up 400 hits, and the first few only mention Asacol in passing, they are not patents for Asacol. I don't know where to start!

---

12 Asacol
100 mg Imuran
6 or 9 fish oil pills
4 Acidophilus pills
4 Caprylic Acid pills

Post Edited (UCinGV) : 8/23/2007 2:38:04 PM (GMT-6)

I read something or saw something quite awhile ago that some of the heavy weight drug companies actually pay a lot of money to competitive companies to slow down or get them to not pursue a generic substitute. It is as profitable or more so to be paid (bribed is more like it) and not make the effort. Even if it is only a year or so I'm sure that translates into bigtime profit and revenue to offset what they pay off to other companies.

Anybody else every hear of anything like this? It sounds like it should be illegal actually. I can't remember where I heard that as it was so long ago.

---

60 yr old male~Colitis 1st diagnosed Jan '05-cleared up within a few wks. Flared again in May '06 ... left sided UC now, fully involved and trying to get in remission. Acute inflammation-pancolitis-tenesmus rectal pain-granulation is showing some healing started. Osteopena of spine from prednisone DX 8/07  July 07 starting to feel somewhat normal 75mg Imuran 40  mg prednisone (tapering 8/07) 12 Asacol, Lidocaine Hydrochloride Jelly 2%,multi vitamin, iron 3X day, DanActive, chewable calcium, Prilosec 20mg, enalapril 10mg, glipizide 5 mg, zocor 20 mg, baby aspirin, (Fentanyl pain patch 50mg 72 hrs  Morphine Sulf 15 mg twice daily)Colocourt enemas at night. Fosamax and mthly B12 shots.

I think it would be hard to bribe every generic drug company in the world.

---

12 Asacol
100 mg Imuran
6 or 9 fish oil pills
4 Acidophilus pills
4 Caprylic Acid pills

UC Veteran thanks for that link - very interesting and sad especially for those who have to pay out of pocket or have very high co payments. Kind of nice that WalMart has a large list of drugs for a small price if you compare their list against some of the co-pays or out of pocket people pay. Too bad the list isn't broader. I also heard that Costco is fair in a smaller profit margin.

I realize it would be very difficult if not impossible to pay off every company out there doing work on getting a drug to a generic state. I just remember seeing something along that line on 60 minutes or Primetime type show interviewing some industry "in the know" people about this.

Hopefully generics are right around the corner for all those who really need it. Yes Prednisone is so incredibly cheap - I'm amazed when we get it filled it is less than our required co-pay amt.

---

60 yr old male~Colitis 1st diagnosed Jan '05-cleared up within a few wks. Flared again in May '06 ... left sided UC now, fully involved and trying to get in remission. Acute inflammation-pancolitis-tenesmus rectal pain-granulation is showing some healing started. Osteopena of spine from prednisone DX 8/07  July 07 starting to feel somewhat normal 75mg Imuran 40  mg prednisone (tapering 8/07) 12 Asacol, Lidocaine Hydrochloride Jelly 2%,multi vitamin, iron 3X day, DanActive, chewable calcium, Prilosec 20mg, enalapril 10mg, glipizide 5 mg, zocor 20 mg, baby aspirin, (Fentanyl pain patch 50mg 72 hrs  Morphine Sulf 15 mg twice daily)Colocourt enemas at night. Fosamax and mthly B12 shots.

Having started Lialda recently, I quickly found it isn't cheap.  Over $600 a bottle and taking 4 a day, I go through a bottle in a month.  Still paying $100 with insurance until I found out I can get it through the mail and get three bottles for $35!  It pays to read up on your insurance plan.

---

Dx Left-sided UC Dec. 2006
Currently:
Azathioprine (Imuran) 125mg/day
Prednisone 15mg/day (trying to taper-started at 60 6/1)
Lialda 4/day

I hear drug companies try to find other off-label conditions that they can get their medicine approved for and thus indefinitely extend the patent life.

ie Repackaging prozac

---

Diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis 6/2006 at age 26 after sudden E.R. visit

How did you do this?  I would really like to know.  I have a card that my GI gave me with my first script and fortunately, CVS keeps letting me get "the bottle" for $25 when it is supposed to cost $50. Granted, that is not as expensive as it is for others, but I'd like to get three bottles for $35!!!!!!!  Please advise

---