Time is running out on the U.S. patents for many of the most popular brand-name drugs. Over the next several years generic versions of many well-known best-selling drugs will become available then. Patents for many blockbuster brand-name drugs begin expiring at a rapid pace in 2010 and will continue for the next few years. Increased competition from generics, drug companies are busy developing new pipeline drugs and devising strategies to try to hold onto sales for their drugs facing patent expiration. Here are all the details of some of the highest-profile drugs that have expiring patents as of the end of during 2010 and 2011.

  • Aricept (donepezil):-
    Pfizer makes the acetylcholine sterase inhibitor Aricept for the treatment of Alzheimer’’s disease. Aricept is scheduled to lose patent protection in the U.S. in 2010, but generic versions are already available
  • Cozzar (losartan):-
    Merck’s Cozaar is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, used to treat hypertension.Cozaar’ s patent protection in the U.S. will expire in 2010. In the meantime, generic losartan is available here.
  • Levaquin (levofloxacin):-
    Johnson & Johnson’s antibiotic drug Levaquin will outlive its patent protection in 2010
    .
  • Lipitor (atorvastatin):-
    Pfizer has the best-selling drug in the world in Lipitor, which treats high cholesterol. In the US, the basic patent for Lipitor expires in March 2010, while the second patent covering the calcium salt of atorvastatin expires in June 2011. It is not yet clear exactly which date will see widespread availability of generic Lipitor in the U.S., but it is coming. In the meantime, generic atorvastatin is available here.
  • Xenical (orlistat):-
    Roche’s Xenical is an obesity treatment that prevents the digestive system from absorbing fats. Its patent expires in December2010. In some countries, including the U.S., orlistat is available over-the-counter as GlaxoSmithKline’s Alli.
  • Aricept (donepezil) :-
    Pfizer/Eisai is to lose patent protection in 2010 on this treatment for symptoms of early Alzheimer’s. Teva has gained tentative FDA approval to market its generic version; however, Eisai and Teva are locked in a patent challenge, keeping the generic off the market for now.
  • Flomax (tamsulosin):-
    Boehringer Ingelheim/Astella’s popular prescription for the treatment of complications of an enlarged prostate was originally scheduled to go off patent in 2009, but delays will make a generic version unavailable until March 2010. Ranbaxy acquired exclusive rights to sell the generic, still under the brand name Flomax, for two months before the patent officially expires.
  • Advair (fluticasone/salmeterol):-
    GSK lost some patent protection on its best-selling asthma drug Advair (also known as Seretide), in 2009, but additional indications make it more likely for generic versions to be released in 2011.
  • Plavix(clopidogrel):-
    Bristol-Myers/Sanofi-Aventis’ blockbuster
  • Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol):-
    AstraZeneca’s also loses its patent on the asthma drug in 2012.
  • Singulair (montelukast):-
    Merck loses its top-selling asthma drug in 2012.
  • Maxalt (rizatriptan):-
    Merck migraine medication, in 2012. Merck is working at developing a new migraine medication, but is having difficulty bringing it to market.
  • Avandia (rosiglitazone):-
    GSK’s patent on the diabetes drug expires in 2012
  • Zometa (zoledronic acid) :-
    Novartis bisphosphonate cancer drug expire in 2012.
    Novartis antihypertensive expire in 2012
  • Cipralex (escitalopram) :-
    Forest Laboratories loses its patent on the antidepressant , also known as Lexapro, in 2012.
  • Viagra:-
    first patent protection disappears for Pfizer’s in 2012.Some other drugs also going to expire:-

    Drug
    Use
    Company
    Expires
    Symbicort
    Asthma
    Astra-Zenica
    2012
    Seroquel
    Schizophrenia
    Astra-Zenica
    2012
    Crestor
    Colesterol
    Astra-Zenica
    2012
    Zyprexa
    Schizophrenia
    Eli-Lilly
    2011
    Actos Type 2
    Diabetes
    Eli-Lilly
    2011
    Lexapro
    Antibiotic
    Forest Labs
    2012
    Avandia Type 2
    Diabetes
    Glaxosmithkine
    2012
    Advair
    Asthma
    Glaxosmithkine
    2010
    Levaquin
    Antibiotic
    Johnson & Johnson
    2010
    Singulair
    Asthma
    Merck & Co.
    2012
    Cozar
    High Blood Pressure
    Merck & Co.
    2010
    Zometa
    Cancer
    Treatment
    Novartis
    2012
    Diovan
    High Blood Pressure
    Novartis
    2012
    Aproval
    High Blood Pressure
    Bristol Myers Squibb
    2011
    Plavix
    Anticagulant
    Bristol Myers Squibb
    2011
    Aricept
    Alzheimers
    Pfizer
    2010
    Xalatan
    Glacoma
    Pfizer
    2010