Generic Sancuso: An Overview
Sancuso® (
granisetron transdermal) is a prescription medication approved to prevent nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy. It comes as a patch that is applied to the skin. It belongs to a group of medications known as 5-HT
3 antagonists.
Sancuso is made by Aveva Drug Delivery Systems, Inc., and is marketed and distributed by ProStrakan, Inc. It is currently under the protection of a patent that prevents any generic Sancuso from being sold in the United States.
When Will Generic Sancuso Be Available?
ProStrakan holds the exclusive rights to market Sancuso in the United States until at least September 2011. This is the earliest predictable date that a generic version of the drug could become available. However, other circumstances could come up to extend or shorten the exclusivity period. This could include things such as lawsuits or other patents for specific
Sancuso uses. Once the drug goes off-patent, several companies will likely begin manufacturing generic Sancuso.
Is Granisetron a Generic Sancuso?
No --
granisetron is the active ingredient in Sancuso (as well as in
Kytril®, a similar medication available in oral and injectable forms), but it is not a generic version of Sancuso. This can be confusing, as the active ingredient of a drug is referred to as the "generic name." However, 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. Although Kytril is available in generic form, Sancuso is not.
