Can I Buy Generic Lastacaft?
Lastacaft™ (
alcaftadine) is a prescription eye drop used to treat eye
allergies (known medically as allergic conjunctivitis). It belongs to a group of medications known as antihistamines and is approved for use in individuals as young as two years old.
Lastacaft is manufactured by Vistakon Pharmaceuticals, LLC. It is currently under the protection of a patent that prevents any generic Lastacaft from being manufactured in the United States.
When Will a Generic Version Be Available?
The first patent for Lastacaft expires in November 2012. This is the earliest predictable date that a generic version could become available.
However, other circumstances could come up to extend or shorten this exclusivity period. This could include such things as lawsuits or other patents for specific
Lastacaft uses. Once the drug goes off-patent, several companies will likely begin manufacturing a generic Lastacaft drug.
Is Alcaftadine a Generic Lastacaft?
No -- alcaftadine is the active ingredient in Lastacaft, but it is not a generic version of it.
What can be confusing is that the active ingredient of a drug is often 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.
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