Ivermectin is available in generic form in the US. This means the patent has expired. You can have a valid patent for only so long in the US. Up to 21 years IIRC after two previous renewals at 7 years a pop.
As I have previously explained Ivermectin is not "out of patent" -- let's walk through the information again.
As noted in drug patent watch, Ivermectin’s original U.S. patent may have expired in 1996 but there are 12 additional U.S follow-up patents for Ivermectin plus 102 foreign patents. Three of the additional U.S. patents have expired in 2012 & 2014 - the others are active. Most companies (in fact all) producing genetics for Ivermectin simply find it best to navigate this patent maze by manufacturing under license agreement with Merck. This allows support from Merck while alleviating all possible patent entanglements. Of course Merck makes money off of these agreements. There are 11 suppliers of Ivermectin listed worldwide (one added recently).
When sold under a "generic" name such as Sklice, Soolantra, etc. -- the Ivermectin is licensed from Merck.
According to drug patent watch -- the pricing information for Ivermectin is about $4 per unit.
Anti-vaxxers have been pushing the false claim that the patents on Ivermectin have expired -- only four out of the dozen U.S. patents have expired and there are still over 100 active, enforceable international patents. The claims from anti-vaxxers that Merck does not want to push Ivermectin for Covid treatment because they would make no money are absolutely false. The anti-vax claims about the pricing for Ivermectin units being mere pennies is also false.
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