Xifaxan is an antibiotic owned by Salix Pharmaceuticals, which is predominantly used in the treatment of different types of diarrhea and hepatic encephalopathy. The drug contains the active ingredient rifaximin and was first authorized for market use on May 25, 2004. It has a total of 29 patents, all of which are still active.
Based on patent expiration, the Xifaxan generic would likely become available after October 2, 2029. This takes into account the expiration dates of its crucial patents such as the one titled 'Methods of treating hepatic encephalopathy', which is set to expire on October 2, 2029. Therefore, until then, other companies may not be able to produce a generic version of Xifaxan.
Xifaxan can be used in various treatments across a range of age groups. It has been approved for the reduction of overt Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE) in adults, treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) in adults, and treatment of traveler's diarrhea caused by Escherichia coli. The drug's effectiveness in these treatments is due to its active ingredient, rifaximin, which works by stopping bacterial growth in the intestines.
Xifaxan holds a total of 29 patents, the majority of which are related to its unique composition and methods of treatment. The last patent is slated to expire on October 2, 2029. Below are the details of the patents: