Does Glyxambi Have a Generic Version? An In-depth Look at Availability and Cost

October 10, 2025 •

4 min read

A 30-day supply of the brand-name prescription drug Glyxambi can cost hundreds of dollars without insurance, as there is currently no lower-priced generic version available in the United States. This raises the question for many patients: Does Glyxambi have a generic? and what are the options for controlling costs in the meantime?

Quick Summary

Glyxambi, a combination medication for Type 2 diabetes, is currently only available as a brand-name product due to patent and market exclusivity protections. Generic versions are not expected to be released until after 2030. Patients may consider cost-saving programs or alternative treatment options.

Key Points

No Generic Available: Glyxambi is currently only available as a brand-name medication, as its patents have not yet expired.
Patent Protection: The manufacturer, Boehringer Ingelheim, holds patents and market exclusivity that prevent generic competition from entering the market.
Estimated Release Timeline: Generic versions of Glyxambi are not expected until at least the mid-2030s, though specific dates can change based on legal activities.
Active Ingredients: Glyxambi is a combination of two active ingredients, empagliflozin and linagliptin, which are also available as separate brand-name medications.
Cost-Saving Options: Patients can explore manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs, prescription discount cards, or discuss alternative therapies with their doctor to manage costs.
Bioequivalence Guarantee: When a generic version eventually becomes available, it must be proven to be bioequivalent to the brand-name product, meaning it will have the same active ingredients and effect.

What is Glyxambi?

Glyxambi is a brand-name prescription medication indicated for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults. It is a combination pill that contains two different active ingredients, empagliflozin and linagliptin, which work together to help control blood sugar levels. Empagliflozin is a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor that works by increasing the amount of glucose removed from the body via urine. Linagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor that boosts the body's natural insulin production after a meal and reduces sugar production by the liver. This dual-action approach has been shown to be effective in controlling blood glucose levels when used in conjunction with diet and exercise. In some cases, Glyxambi is also used in adults with Type 2 diabetes and known cardiovascular disease to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death.

The Patent Protection Shield: Why No Generic Glyxambi Exists Yet

The reason Glyxambi is not yet available as a generic is rooted in intellectual property law, specifically patent protection and market exclusivity. When a pharmaceutical company, such as Glyxambi's manufacturer Boehringer Ingelheim, develops a new drug, it is granted a patent. This patent gives the company exclusive rights to manufacture and market the drug for a set period, typically 20 years from the date of filing. This period allows the company to recoup the significant costs associated with research, development, and clinical trials.

For combination drugs like Glyxambi, patents can cover the individual active ingredients (empagliflozin and linagliptin) as well as the unique formulation of the combined product. In the U.S., the expiration dates for these patents can vary, and a new generic cannot be launched until all relevant patents and any periods of market exclusivity have expired. Searches of patent databases reveal that some of Glyxambi's patents are not set to expire until the mid-2030s. Therefore, generic competition for the specific Glyxambi combination is not anticipated for some time.

Brand vs. Generic Drugs: What's the Difference?

Understanding the difference between brand-name and generic drugs is key for consumers. While they are often perceived as different, generic drugs are subject to rigorous FDA standards and are required to be bioequivalent to their brand-name counterparts.

Key differences include:

Active vs. Inactive Ingredients: A generic drug contains the exact same active ingredient(s) as the brand-name version, but the inactive ingredients (like fillers and dyes) may vary.
Cost: Generic medications are significantly less expensive, often costing 80–85% less than their brand-name versions. This is because generic manufacturers don't bear the initial development and marketing costs of the original drug.
Appearance: A generic drug may look different from the brand-name version in terms of color, shape, and packaging.
FDA Approval Process: Generic manufacturers submit an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA), which references the brand-name drug's safety and efficacy data, rather than conducting new clinical trials.

Comparison of Glyxambi and Potential Generic Versions


Characteristic	Brand-Name Glyxambi	Future Generic Version
Active Ingredients	Empagliflozin and Linagliptin	Empagliflozin and Linagliptin
Approval Process	Original NDA with extensive clinical trials	Abbreviated NDA (ANDA) proving bioequivalence
Estimated Cost	High, hundreds of dollars per month without insurance	Significantly lower, potentially 80-85% less
Physical Appearance	Pale yellow or pale pink arc triangular tablets with specific debossing	Could differ in color, shape, and inactive ingredients
Availability	Currently available, prescription only	Not available until patents expire (est. post-2030)

Cost-Saving Strategies and Alternatives to Glyxambi

For patients unable to afford brand-name Glyxambi, there are several strategies to reduce costs and alternative treatment paths to discuss with a healthcare provider.

Here are some common options:

Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs): Boehringer Ingelheim, Glyxambi's manufacturer, offers a Savings Card program that can help lower costs for eligible patients. Eligibility requirements vary and can be strict.
Prescription Discount Cards: Services like SingleCare can offer significant discounts on brand-name Glyxambi at participating pharmacies.
Mail-Order Pharmacies: Many insurance plans provide lower copayments or extended-day supplies (e.g., 90 days) through a mail-order service.
Individual Component Medications: A healthcare provider may prescribe the active ingredients separately. Jardiance (empagliflozin) and Tradjenta (linagliptin) are the individual medications, which may be more cost-effective when purchased separately depending on insurance coverage and discount programs.
Alternative Combination Therapies: Other brand-name combination drugs are available for Type 2 diabetes that contain one of Glyxambi's active ingredients paired with a different drug, such as metformin. Examples include Invokamet (canagliflozin and metformin) and Synjardy (empagliflozin and metformin).
Exploring Other Drug Classes: A doctor may suggest a different class of diabetes medication entirely, such as a GLP-1 receptor agonist, if blood sugar control is not adequate.

Conclusion

While a generic version of Glyxambi is not yet available due to brand-name patent protection, options are available for patients concerned about cost. The timeline for a generic release is dependent on patent expiration, with estimates suggesting it will not happen until well into the 2030s. In the interim, patients should consult with their healthcare provider and pharmacist to discuss potential cost-saving strategies and to explore medically appropriate alternative treatments. Never stop taking your prescribed medication or switch to an unapproved alternative without professional medical guidance. For more information on generic drugs, visit the FDA's generic drug webpage.

Note: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Glyxambi is a prescription medication used alongside diet and exercise to help control high blood sugar levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes. It may also be used to lower the risk of cardiovascular death in certain patients.

Glyxambi contains a combination of two active ingredients: empagliflozin (an SGLT2 inhibitor) and linagliptin (a DPP-4 inhibitor).

The specific launch date for a generic Glyxambi is not confirmed, but based on current patent expiration information, it is not expected to be available until at least the 2030s.

Yes, your doctor may suggest alternative therapies. These include taking the individual components (Jardiance and Tradjenta) as separate pills or switching to other combination diabetes medications or drug classes.

Generic drugs are cheaper because manufacturers do not have to recover the significant costs of initial drug research, development, and extensive clinical trials required for brand-name drugs.

Patients can look into manufacturer patient assistance programs, use prescription discount cards like SingleCare, or check if their insurance offers better pricing through mail-order pharmacies.

No. Because a legitimate generic is not yet available, any product marketed as such is likely fraudulent and unsafe. Only purchase medications from reputable, valid online pharmacies, and always consult a healthcare provider.

Generic drugs are held to the same high standards for quality, safety, and effectiveness as their brand-name counterparts. The FDA requires them to contain the same active ingredients and be bioequivalent.