Generic Atomoxetine Prices: What Changed in 2025?
An in‑depth look at the ninth generic entrant and the latest price drop
1. Price timeline 2021 – 2025
| Milestone | Event | Market effect |
|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | Six‑month exclusivity for first‑to‑file (Teva) ends; three additional ANDAs launch. | AWP for 40 mg/30‑count falls ≈ 8 % in Red Book snapshots. |
| 2022 | Supply stabilises; insurers move generics to Tier 1. | GoodRx cash price for 40 mg slides below $25. |
| 2023 | Fifth & sixth generics (Camber, Sun) win approval. | NADAC for 10–40 mg caps drops from $0.89 to $0.69 per unit. |
| 2024 | Patent 6 913 768 expires; PBMs revise MAC lists each quarter. | Average payer cost for 90‑day fills falls below $60. |
| Apr 25 2025 | Ninth ANDA (Zydus) approved; launches at 65 % of prevailing WAC. | Immediate 14‑18 % cut in AWP and NADAC by May updates. |
| May 2025 | Glenmark recall temporarily trims supply but doesn’t move price. | Extra capacity from Zydus offsets recall. |
2. Average AWP and NADAC trends
The proprietary nature of Red Book prevents us from publishing exact dollar values, but the index shows a 34 % fall between 2021 Q1 and 2024 Q4, followed by a further 15 % drop immediately after the ninth entrant in 2025 Q2. NADAC mirrors the slope with a six‑week lag; the latest CMS file lists a 40 mg unit cost of $0.58—down from $1.58 in late 2020.
3. Why prices fell again in Q2 2025
- Ninth wheel dynamic. Economic studies show the steepest discount once manufacturer count exceeds eight; atomoxetine now counts nine active labelers.
- Launch WAC under‑cut. Zydus priced its first clean‑room batch 35 % below the prevailing WAC, prompting competitors to match within days.
- PBM MAC resets. Express Scripts and OptumRx refreshed maximum‑allowable‑cost lists on 1 May 2025, immediately lowering pharmacy reimbursements.
- Recall offset. Glenmark’s March 2025 recall removed 1.5 million bottles, but Zydus’ launch allocation filled the gap, averting a price rebound.
4. Outlook for the rest of the year
Historical curves for off‑patent CNS agents suggest another 5 – 8 % slide by December 2025, taking the AWP index near 60. Teva’s long‑standing 5 % share‑of‑voice premium is already below 2 %; expect its cash price to converge with the pack. Watch the monthly CMS NADAC updates—if June and July prints stay flat, we’ve likely hit the floor for 2025.
Key take‑aways
- The ninth generic entrant (Zydus) triggered an additional ~15 % AWP drop in April–May 2025.
- GoodRx cash prices reflect much of the decline; insured patients will see lower copays as formularies refresh in Q3.
- Brand loyalty to Teva is now largely cosmetic—compare pharmacies, not labelers.
Sources & further reading
- FDA Orange Book – April 2025 cumulative supplement.
- Red Book Online historical snapshots (Mar 2021, Jan 2022, Jan 2023, Jan 2024, May 2025).
- GoodRx historical price pages for atomoxetine 40 mg (accessed 30 May 2025).
- CMS Medicaid NADAC CSV extracts (Dec 2020, Nov 2023, Jan 2024).
- Mississippi Medicaid DUR Board packet (AWP illustration).
- Glenmark atomoxetine recall notice, 5 Mar 2025.