Hair Loss News

Gedeon Richter USA, a pharmaceutical company operating predominantly in central and Eastern Europe, was approved by the FDA on December 26, 2006 to manufacture and sell a generic equivalent to Merck’s drug Proscar, also known as Finasteride.

A 5mg dose of Finasteride is approved by the FDA for use in treating an enlarged prostate (BPH).   Merck uses the same active ingredient in a smaller 1mg dose as the active ingredient in Propecia, the hair loss drug.

Gedeon Richter USA is currently the fourth manufacturer of generic Finasteride to be approved by the FDA since the Proscar patent expired.

At this time Propecia is not yet available in a generic form due to the patent that Merck still holds on its use.   When Merck’s patent runs out for Propecia its quite possible that these same manufacturers will apply for permission to sell a generic version of Propecia since the only difference between Proscar and Propecia is the amount of Finasteride in each pill.

The good news for consumers is that the generics will bring the prices of treatment down.