Drug trade names include Propecia and Proscar, both products of Merck & Co. (the former is marketed for hair loss in male pattern baldness, and the latter for BPH). There is 1 mg of finasteride in Propecia and 5 mg in Proscar. Merck's patent on finasteride (for the treatment of BPH) expired on June 19, 2006. Merck was awarded a separate patent for the use of finasteride to treat male pattern baldness. This patent is set to expire in November 2013. Some studies have shown that the dose of finasteride needed to treat male pattern baldness may be smaller than 1 mg. Petitions to the FDA to re-examine the approved dosage in light of the statistical evidence and possible long-term risks, were met with the response that a study had shown increased effect of a 1 mg dose compared to 0.2 mg without added risks; the same study also concluded that doses of ''0.01'' mg per day were found to be ineffective in treating hair loss.
Several companies outside the US currently manufacture generic finasteride:
- Ajanta Pharma (trade name Appecia)
- Aleppo Pharmaceutical (trade name Prosteride)
- Cipla (trade names Fincar and Finpecia)
- Dr. Reddy's (trade names Finax and Finast),
- Intas Pharmaceuticals (trade name Finalo)
- Ranbaxy (trade name Finara)
- Zentiva (trade name Penester)
- Actavis (trade name Hyplafin)
- Zentiva (trade name Finpros)
- Hemofarm (trade name Tectum)
- Teva (trade name Prezepa)
Further Reading
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