Is a Generic Version of AndroGel Available?
AndroGel® (
testosterone gel) is a prescription medication approved for the treatment of low testosterone levels in men. It is a gel that is applied to the skin once daily.
AndroGel is made by Laboratoires Besins International and is marketed and distributed by Unimed Pharmaceuticals, LLC, a subsidiary of Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. AndroGel is not available in generic form.
When Will Generic AndroGel Be Available?
The first patent for AndroGel is currently set to expire in March 2021. However, generic AndroGel is expected to become available much sooner (probably by February 2016). This is a result of the settlement of a lawsuit between the maker of AndroGel and a generic manufacturer. The settlement will allow Par Pharmaceutical (a generic manufacturer) to begin marketing generic AndroGel by February 2016.
Is Testosterone Gel the Same as Generic AndroGel?
No -- "testosterone gel" is the generic name for AndroGel, but it is not a generic version of it. All medications have generic names, regardless of whether or not generics are available. 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.
