FDA Approves Generic Lovenox (Enoxaparin)

I still remember when Lovenox came out. Lovenox was the first low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) and it was a drug that changed the way anticoagulation was managed in the hospital setting. Instead of chasing PTT values and adjusting heparing drips, you could simply prescribe a fixed dose of an injection when treating patients who have a DVT or PE (pulmonary embolism).

Now, there's a generic form of this injectable blood thinner for patients who require anticoagulation therapy. Here's a snippet from a recent FDA press release:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first generic version of Lovenox (enoxaparin sodium injection), an anti-coagulant drug used for multiple indications including prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a potentially deadly blood clotting condition.

Approved for use in 1993, Lovenox is made from heparin, a blood-thinning drug whose active ingredient is a naturally-derived complex mixture of sugar molecules.

Every time a generic drug gets approved, I'm reminded that time passes by so quickly. In some ways, it feels like yesterday when the branded drug received FDA approval.