Introducing generic competition to the market has long been cited as a way to lower drug prices in the U.S.
While brand-name drug manufacturers try to fend off generics as long as possible, 45 generics are slated to face generic competition this year if brand-name drugmakers can't win patent extensions in court.
Below is a list of the brand-name products expected to lose patent exclusivity, according to OptumRx's generic pipeline forecast. The list includes the drug, its brand-name manufacturer and the drug's approved use.
1. Advate (Baxalta) is used to control and prevent bleeding episodes in patients with hemophilia A.
2. Ameluz (Biofrontera) is a gel for topical use to treat actinic keratosis, a rough scaly patch resulting from exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
3. Aptensio XR (Rhodes) is a pediatric prescription medicine for the treatment of ADHD.
4. Avastin (Genentech) can help treat several forms of cancer, including colorectal, lung, glioblastoma, cervical and ovarian.
5. AzaSite (Akorn) is an azithromycin antibiotic that can treat various types of infections.
6. BeneFIX (Pfizer) is a coagulation drug commonly used to treat patients with hemophilia B.
7. Bepreve (Bausch Health) is an antihistamine that treats itching associated with allergic reactions.
8. Botox Cosmetic (Allergan) is used to reduce wrinkles.
9. Cetrotide (EMD Serono) prevents premature ovulation in women undergoing fertility treatment.
10. Cuvposa (Merz) helps reduce chronic severe drooling in children.
11. Cystaran (Sigma Tau) prevents the buildup of cystine crystals in the kidneys.
12. Delzicol (Allergan) is used to treat the symptoms of mild or moderate active ulcerative colitis.
13. Durezol (Alcon, Novartis) treats eye irritation.
14. Edluar (Meda, Orexo) helps treat insomnia.
15. Emend (Merck) helps prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.
16. Enbrel (Amgen) is used to treat arthritis.
17. Epaned Kit (Silvergate) is used to treat high blood pressure.
18. Epclusa (Gilead) is a fixed-dose combination medication for the treatment of hepatitis C.
19. Exjade (Novartis) is an iron reducer, commonly used for the management of chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions.
20. Faslodex (AstraZeneca) is used to treat women with breast cancer who have gone through menopause.
21. Ferriprox (ApoPharma, Apotex) is used to reduce iron toxicity in the blood.
22. Firazyr (Shire) is approved to treat sudden attacks of hereditary angioedema, a disease characterized by recurrent episodes of severe swelling.
23. Flector (IBSA Institut, Biochemique, Pfizer) is approved to treat pain and migraines in its oral form.
24. Forteo (Eli Lilly) helps treat patients with osteoporosis who have a high risk for fractures.
25. Harvoni (Gilead) is a fixed-dose combination medication for the treatment of hepatitis C.
26. Herceptin (Genentech, Roche) treats early stage breast cancer that is human-epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive.
27. Jadenu (Novartis) is used to treat iron toxicity.
28. Lyrica (Pfizer) helps relieve nerve and muscle pain, including fibromyalgia. It can also treat seizures.
29. Myobloc (US WorldMeds) helps reduce neck pain caused by severe muscle spasms in the neck and reduces the severity of abnormal head position as a result of the spasms.
30. Omnaris (Sunovion, Takeda) is used to treat nasal symptoms of seasonal allergies or hay fever.
31. Osmoprep (Salix) is used to clean out intestines before a colonoscopy.
32. Prepopik (Ferring Pharmaceuticals) is used to clean out intestines before surgery or procedures.
33. Prestalia (Symplmed) is used to treat high blood pressure.
34. Ranexa (Gilead) is a heart medication that commonly is prescribed to treat chest pain due to angina, a type of pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart.
35. Rescriptor (ViiV Healthcare) is used to treat patients with HIV.
36. Rozerem (Takeda) helps adults with insomnia fall asleep more easily.
37. Striant (Auxilium) is a testosterone medication.
38. Tarceva (Genentech, Pfizer, OSI Pharma) is prescribed to help patients with non-small cell lung cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
39. Tekturna (Novartis) is used to treat high blood pressure.
40. Thalomid (Celgene) helps prevent a skin disease caused by leprosy and is also helped to treat multiple myeloma.
41. Vermox (Janssen) treats worm infections like hookworms and roundworms.
42. Vesicare (Astellas) treats the symptoms of an overactive bladder.
43. Vivlodex (Iroko, ICeutica) is a low-dose prescription NSAID for osteoarthritis pain.
44. Zohydro ER (Pernix) is an opioid derived from codeine to treat pain.
45. Zytiga (Janssen) can help treat prostate cancer.