Generic Invega

At this time, Invega (paliperidone) is sold as a brand-name drug only. Until an approved generic version of Invega is available, you should not purchase any product sold as "generic Invega." These drugs are fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous.

An Overview of Generic Invega

Invega® (paliperidone) is a prescription medication that has been licensed to treat schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.
 
Invega is manufactured by ALZA Corporation or Janssen-Cilag Manufacturing, LLC. It is marketed and distributed by Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
 
Invega is currently protected by a patent that prevents any generic Invega from being manufactured. Yet, if you search the Internet for "generic Invega," you may find a number of companies selling it. The fact is that these medicines are fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous. You should not buy any generic Invega until there is an approved generic available.
 

When Will There Be a Generic Invega?

The first Invega patent expired in April 2012. Yet, no generic versions are available. This strongly suggests that the drug is still protected from generic competition by certain exclusivity rights (which are not quite the same as patents), which may not expire until October 2014. This is the earliest possible date that a generic version of Invega could become available.
 
However, there are other circumstances that could come up to extend the exclusivity period of Invega beyond 2014. These circumstances could include things such as lawsuits or other patents for specific Invega uses.
 

Is Paliperidone a Generic Invega?

No, it isn't.
 Paliperidone is the active ingredient in Invega, not a generic version of the drug. Oftentimes, the active ingredient of any drug is referred to as its "generic name." The generic name of a medicine is different from a generic version of it. 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 have made the product.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
 
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