Generic Etanercept

Etanercept (Enbrel^®) is a prescription medication that has been licensed to treat several inflammatory conditions that affect the joints and skin. These conditions include:

 

 

Etanercept is manufactured by Amgen. Technically, this medication is considered a "biologic," and is, therefore, under different rules and laws than most other medications. At this point, generic biologics, including generic etanercept, are not allowed to be manufactured.

 

Yet, if you search the Internet for "generic etanercept," you may find a number of companies selling it. The fact is that these medicines are fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous. Generic etanercept may be available from another country, but there is really no way of knowing if you are getting genuine etanercept or not. You should not buy any generic versions until an approved version is available.

 

When Will Generic Etanercept Be Available?

This is a difficult question. Unless the laws and rules are changed, generic etanercept will never be available. However, it is likely that these rules and laws will be changed in the future.

 

Is Etanercept a Generic Enbrel?

No -- etanercept is the active ingredient in Enbrel, but is not a generic version of it. What can be confusing is that, oftentimes, the active ingredient of a 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.