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Generic HPV Vaccine

At this time, there is no generic version of the HPV vaccine because it is protected by a patent. The patent expires in 2017, at which time a generic HPV vaccine could be manufactured and sold. However, there are other circumstances that could come up to extend the date past 2017, including lawsuits or other patents for specific uses of the HPV vaccine. Once the patent for the HPV vaccine expires, there may be several companies that manufacture a generic version of the HPV vaccine.

 

Generic HPV Vaccine: An Overview

Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (Types 6, 11, 16, and 18) Recombinant Vaccine (Gardasil®) is a vaccine that has been licensed to prevent cervical cancer, genital warts, and various precancerous genital lesions caused by certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV for short).
 
The HPV vaccine is approved for use in girls and women ages 9 to 26.
 
The HPV vaccine is manufactured by Merck & Co. It is currently protected by a patent that prevents any generic HPV vaccine from being manufactured.
 

HPV Vaccine Patent Expiration

The first patent for the HPV vaccine currently expires in 2017. This is the earliest date that a generic version of the HPV vaccine could become available. However, there are other circumstances that could come up to extend the exclusivity period of the HPV vaccine beyond 2017. This could include such things as lawsuits or other patents for specific HPV vaccine uses. Once the HPV vaccine goes off patent, there may be several companies that manufacture a generic HPV vaccine drug.
 

Generic HPV Vaccine Versus Generic Name

Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (Types 6, 11, 16, 18) Recombinant Vaccine is the active ingredient in Gardasil, but it is not a generic version of Gardasil. 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 than 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 then another company (besides the original manufacturer) would make the product.
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;