FDA List of Authorized Generics: Where to Find and How to Use It

If you're trying to find a cheaper version of a brand-name drug and heard about authorized generics, you're not alone. Many people assume all generic drugs are the same-but they’re not. Some generics are made by the original brand company and sold under a different label. These are called authorized generics. They’re chemically identical to the brand drug, but often cost less. The problem? Finding them isn’t easy. The FDA keeps a list, but it’s not simple to use. Here’s how to find it, what it actually tells you, and why it might not help you buy the drug you need.

What Exactly Is an Authorized Generic?

An authorized generic is the exact same drug as the brand-name version-same active ingredient, same dose, same shape, same manufacturer. The only difference? It doesn’t carry the brand name on the label. For example, if you take Cipro (brand), an authorized generic version might be sold as just "ciprofloxacin" but made by Bayer, the original maker. It’s not a copy. It’s the real thing, just repackaged.

This isn’t the same as a regular generic. Regular generics are made by other companies after the brand patent expires. They have to prove they work the same way, but they’re not made by the original company. Authorized generics skip that process entirely. They’re produced under the brand’s own FDA approval (called an NDA), not the generic approval (ANDA). That means they hit the market faster and without the 180-day exclusivity period that regular generics get.

Why does this matter? Because if you’re looking for the lowest price, an authorized generic can be cheaper than the brand, but not always cheaper than a regular generic. And sometimes, it’s not even available-despite being listed.

Where to Find the Official FDA List

The FDA publishes the only official list of authorized generics on its website. Go to fda.gov/drugs/abbreviated-new-drug-application-anda/fda-list-authorized-generic-drugs. That’s the only place that’s legally required to be accurate.

The list comes as a downloadable PDF-about 1.09 MB. It’s not a searchable website. It’s a static document updated every three months. The most recent version as of October 10, 2025, includes over 850 entries dating back to 1999. Each line shows:

• The brand name (like ACTIQ, ARTHROTEC, CLEOCIN T)
• The dosage form and strength (e.g., 1200 mcg lozenge, 50 mg/200 mcg tablet)
• The company that makes it (usually the brand manufacturer-Pfizer, Teva, Mylan/Viatris)
• The date the authorized generic entered the market

But here’s the catch: that "date entered the market" isn’t the exact day the drug went on sale. It’s the date range covered by the company’s annual report to the FDA. Companies don’t have to report the exact launch date. They just report that it happened sometime during the year. So if you see a drug listed with a 2023 date, it could’ve been available in January 2023-or December 2023.

Why the FDA List Doesn’t Tell You What You Really Need to Know

The FDA list tells you what was reported. It doesn’t tell you what’s currently being sold.

Pharmacists and patients have been frustrated by this for years. In a 2023 survey of 1,247 independent pharmacists, 68% said the list was "somewhat or very difficult" to use for actual purchasing decisions. Why? Because:

• Many drugs listed are no longer on the market
• The list doesn’t say if the drug is available at your pharmacy
• It doesn’t show pricing
• It doesn’t tell you if the manufacturer still makes it

One pharmacist in Ohio checked eight authorized generics listed by the FDA. Five weren’t available through any of his suppliers-even though the FDA showed they entered the market in 2024. He called the manufacturers. Three had stopped making them months earlier. The list didn’t reflect that.

Even the FDA admits this. Their own disclaimer says: "FDA does not have information on whether the AG is still marketed and, if not still marketed, the date marketing ceased."

So if you’re using this list to find a cheaper option for your prescription, you’re working with outdated information. It’s like checking a restaurant’s menu from 2020 and showing up expecting the same dish.

How Authorized Generics Are Used in the Market

Brand-name drug companies don’t make authorized generics to help you save money. They do it to protect their profits.

When a brand drug’s patent expires, a generic company can launch and get 180 days of exclusive sales. During that time, they can charge high prices. But if the brand company launches its own authorized generic right away, it splits the market. The generic company can’t charge as much because now there’s a second low-cost option-even if it’s made by the same company.

This strategy is so common that 30% of brand drugs facing generic competition now have an authorized generic version, according to 2024 IQVIA data. Pfizer, Teva, and Viatris (formerly Mylan) are the top three companies launching them. In the 2025 FDA list, Pfizer has 47 authorized generics listed, Teva has 32, and Viatris has 28.

But here’s the irony: because these authorized generics are made by the brand company, they often cost more than regular generics. A 2020 JAMA Internal Medicine study found that many authorized generics are priced only slightly below the brand drug-sometimes just 5-10% cheaper. That’s not a big savings for patients.

On the other hand, some experts say they help prevent price gouging. When a generic company has exclusivity, they might jack up prices. An authorized generic can act as a check on that.

How to Actually Find and Buy an Authorized Generic

Don’t rely on the FDA list alone. Use it as a starting point, then verify with other tools:

1. Check the National Drug Code (NDC) Directory at fda.gov/drugs/drug-approvals-and-databases/national-drug-code-directory. Search by the generic name or NDC number. This will tell you which companies currently make and distribute the drug.
2. Use a commercial database like IQVIA or RedBook if you have access (many pharmacies do). These show real-time availability and pricing.
3. Ask your pharmacist to check their wholesaler’s catalog. They can tell you what’s in stock, not just what was reported.
4. Compare prices on GoodRx or SingleCare. Sometimes the authorized generic shows up there-even if the FDA list doesn’t mention it.

For example, let’s say you’re looking for a generic version of Arthrotec. The FDA list says Pfizer launched an authorized generic in November 2012. But when you check GoodRx, you see two options: one made by Pfizer (authorized generic) at $12 for 60 tablets, and another made by a different company (regular generic) at $8. The FDA list doesn’t tell you that. The price comparison does.

What’s Coming Next

The FDA knows the current list is outdated. In its 2025 Strategic Plan, the agency says it plans to replace the PDF with a searchable, real-time database by mid-2026. That’s a big step forward.

They’re also working with the FTC to improve reporting. Right now, companies aren’t punished for forgetting to report an authorized generic. The FTC estimates 10-15% of them are missing from the list. That could change if new rules are passed.

There’s also talk of linking the authorized generics list to the FDA’s Drug Shortage Portal and the price transparency rules from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. That would mean future versions might show not just if a drug was made-but if it’s in stock, and how much it costs.

For now, though, the system is still broken. It’s useful for researchers, insurance companies, and big pharmacies. But for the average person trying to save money on a prescription? It’s more of a historical record than a shopping guide.

Bottom Line

The FDA’s list of authorized generics is the only official source for this information. But it’s not a tool for buying drugs. It’s a tool for understanding how the market works. If you want to find a cheaper version of your medication, use the list to identify possible candidates, then verify availability and price with your pharmacist or a price-comparison site.

Don’t assume a drug on the list is available. Don’t assume it’s the cheapest option. And don’t assume the FDA knows what’s happening right now. The system is designed for transparency-not convenience.

But if you’re a patient, a pharmacist, or a caregiver, knowing this list exists-and how to use it correctly-can help you ask the right questions. And sometimes, that’s the first step to saving money on your meds.