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Generic Gatifloxacin
At this time, generic gatifloxacin is unavailable because at least one patent protects one of the brand-name versions from generic competition. The earliest predictable date this could change is in 2016, provided there are no other extenuating circumstances, such as other patents. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, the "generic version" and the "generic name" for a medication are not the same things.
Gatifloxacin is a prescription antibiotic available in the form of an eye drop. It is used to treat bacterial conjunctivitis, or "pink eye." Gatifloxacin belongs to a class of medications called fluoroquinolones, or "quinolones" for short.
Gatifloxacin is currently available as Zymaxid™ and Zymar®. Both products are made by Allergan, Inc. At this time, gatifloxacin is not available in generic form.
The first patent for one of the gatifloxacin eye drop products (Zymar) recently expired; however, it is not yet available as a generic product. This may be because there is another patent for Zymar that is not due to expire until June 2016. Thus, this is the earliest predictable date that a generic gatifloxacin could become available.
However, other circumstances could come up to extend or shorten the exclusivity period. This could include such things as lawsuits or other patents for specific gatifloxacin uses. Once a gatifloxacin product goes off-patent, there may be several companies that manufacturer a generic version.
No -- gatifloxacin is the active ingredient in Zymar and Zymaxid, but is not a generic version of these medications. 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.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD