When will a generic Celebrex be available in the US?

The patent for Celebrex expires in 2013. It is expected that once Celebrex goes off-patent, several companies will begin manufacturing a generic Celebrex drug. Normally in the United States, one company is given 180 days of exclusivity to manufacture a generic version of a drug. After 180 days, other manufacturers of generic medications will likely begin making a generic form of Celebrex.

No. Celecoxib is the active ingredient in Celebrex, but it is not a generic version of it. This can be confusing, because the active ingredient of any drug is often referred to as the "generic name." But the generic name is not the same as a generic version of a medicine. For there to be a generic version of a medicine, the original medicine must first go off-patent. Then another company besides the original manufacturer must start making the product.