PENICILLIN G PROCAINE - Generic Drug Details
What are the generic sources for penicillin g procaine and what is the scope of patent protection?
Penicillin g procaine
is the generic ingredient in three branded drugs marketed by Lilly, Consolidated Pharm, King Pharms Llc, Parke Davis, and Pfizer, and is included in six NDAs. Additional information is available in the individual branded drug profile pages.Summary for PENICILLIN G PROCAINE
| US Patents: | 0 |
| Tradenames: | 3 |
| Applicants: | 5 |
| NDAs: | 6 |
| Raw Ingredient (Bulk) Api Vendors: | 36 |
| Clinical Trials: | 4 |
| Patent Applications: | 585 |
| Drug Prices: | Drug price trends for PENICILLIN G PROCAINE |
| What excipients (inactive ingredients) are in PENICILLIN G PROCAINE? | PENICILLIN G PROCAINE excipients list |
| DailyMed Link: | PENICILLIN G PROCAINE at DailyMed |
Recent Clinical Trials for PENICILLIN G PROCAINE
Identify potential brand extensions & 505(b)(2) entrants
| Sponsor | Phase |
|---|---|
| Alphacait, LLC | Phase 2 |
| Haining Health-Coming Biotech Co., Ltd. | Phase 2 |
| London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine | Phase 3 |
Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) Categories for PENICILLIN G PROCAINE
Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classes for PENICILLIN G PROCAINE
US Patents and Regulatory Information for PENICILLIN G PROCAINE
| Applicant | Tradename | Generic Name | Dosage | NDA | Approval Date | TE | Type | RLD | RS | Patent No. | Patent Expiration | Product | Substance | Delist Req. | Exclusivity Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pfizer | PENICILLIN G PROCAINE | penicillin g procaine | INJECTABLE;INJECTION | 060099-001 | Approved Prior to Jan 1, 1982 | DISCN | No | No | ⤷ Start Trial | ⤷ Start Trial | ⤷ Start Trial | ||||
| Consolidated Pharm | PENICILLIN G PROCAINE | penicillin g procaine | INJECTABLE;INJECTION | 060800-002 | Approved Prior to Jan 1, 1982 | DISCN | No | No | ⤷ Start Trial | ⤷ Start Trial | ⤷ Start Trial | ||||
| Pfizer | PFIZERPEN-AS | penicillin g procaine | INJECTABLE;INJECTION | 060286-001 | Approved Prior to Jan 1, 1982 | DISCN | No | No | ⤷ Start Trial | ⤷ Start Trial | ⤷ Start Trial | ||||
| King Pharms Llc | PENICILLIN G PROCAINE | penicillin g procaine | INJECTABLE;INJECTION | 060101-001 | Approved Prior to Jan 1, 1982 | RX | No | Yes | ⤷ Start Trial | ⤷ Start Trial | ⤷ Start Trial | ||||
| Pfizer | PFIZERPEN-AS | penicillin g procaine | INJECTABLE;INJECTION | 060286-002 | Approved Prior to Jan 1, 1982 | DISCN | No | No | ⤷ Start Trial | ⤷ Start Trial | ⤷ Start Trial | ||||
| >Applicant | >Tradename | >Generic Name | >Dosage | >NDA | >Approval Date | >TE | >Type | >RLD | >RS | >Patent No. | >Patent Expiration | >Product | >Substance | >Delist Req. | >Exclusivity Expiration |
Penicillin G Procaine Market Dynamics, Financial Trajectory, Patents, and Generic Competition
Penicillin G procaine is a mature, low-cost injectable antibiotic with limited patent protection and modest commercial value. Its market is driven by public-health demand, hospital procurement, veterinary use, and intermittent supply constraints rather than brand pricing power. The product has no meaningful modern composition-of-matter exclusivity, and current commercial risk centers on manufacturing capacity, regulatory maintenance, sterility controls, and substitution by benzathine or aqueous penicillin formulations.
The financial outlook is stable to declining in ordinary demand, with episodic revenue increases during shortages or public-health campaigns. Public companies generally do not report penicillin G procaine revenue separately, so product-level sales and profit estimates are unavailable from audited filings.
What is penicillin G procaine and how is it used?
Penicillin G procaine is a long-acting intramuscular formulation of procaine benzylpenicillin. Procaine reduces the solubility of penicillin G and slows absorption after injection compared with aqueous crystalline penicillin G.
Its principal uses include:
- Treatment of susceptible bacterial infections requiring intramuscular penicillin.
- Alternative treatment regimens for neurosyphilis when combined with oral probenecid, subject to clinical guidelines.
- Treatment of other streptococcal and pneumococcal infections when susceptibility and clinical circumstances support use.
- Veterinary and livestock applications in markets where approved products remain available.
The drug is distinct from penicillin G benzathine. Benzathine formulations, including Bicillin L-A, are generally preferred for syphilis treatment because of their pharmacokinetic profile and guideline-specific indications. Penicillin G procaine is not interchangeable with benzathine penicillin or intravenous aqueous penicillin G.
| Product | Active formulation | Typical route | Primary commercial role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penicillin G procaine | Procaine benzylpenicillin | Intramuscular | Mature injectable antibiotic |
| Penicillin G benzathine | Benzathine benzylpenicillin | Intramuscular | Syphilis and selected streptococcal infections |
| Aqueous penicillin G | Crystalline benzylpenicillin | Intravenous or intramuscular | Severe systemic infections and neurosyphilis |
| Penicillin G potassium | Potassium salt of benzylpenicillin | Intravenous or intramuscular | Hospital treatment of serious infections |
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies daily procaine penicillin G plus probenecid as an alternative regimen for adult neurosyphilis when the patient is able to comply with therapy, although intravenous aqueous penicillin G is the standard preferred regimen (CDC, 2021).
How large is the penicillin G procaine market?
The standalone global market is small relative to total antibiotics and is not consistently measured in public financial disclosures. Manufacturers typically report sales within broader categories such as hospital injectables, anti-infectives, generic pharmaceuticals, or animal health products.
The commercial market has four structural characteristics:
- Low average selling prices.
- Limited product differentiation.
- Small and uneven order volumes.
- High operational sensitivity to manufacturing interruptions.
The product’s low unit price does not eliminate commercial value. Injectable antibiotics require validated sterile manufacturing, specialized filling equipment, quality-control testing, and reliable active pharmaceutical ingredient supply. These fixed costs can make a low-price product economically unattractive when volumes are limited.
What drives demand for penicillin G procaine?
Demand is concentrated in settings where intramuscular administration, low cost, or local treatment protocols are important. Key drivers include:
- Continued use of penicillin-sensitive organisms.
- Public-health programs for sexually transmitted infections.
- Hospital and clinic demand for injectable antibiotics.
- Veterinary treatment and livestock production.
- Procurement by ministries of health, humanitarian agencies, and institutional buyers.
- Substitution when benzathine penicillin or aqueous penicillin G is unavailable.
Demand is constrained by the availability of alternatives, the decline in routine use of older penicillins, allergy concerns, resistance surveillance, and clinical preference for other formulations.
What is the financial trajectory for penicillin G procaine?
The financial trajectory is best described as mature, low-growth, and supply-sensitive.
| Financial factor | Expected effect |
|---|---|
| Unit price | Low and constrained by generic competition |
| Volume | Stable in niche indications, declining in routine use |
| Gross margin | Vulnerable to sterile manufacturing and compliance costs |
| Revenue volatility | High during shortages and emergency procurement |
| Brand pricing power | Limited |
| Patent-based pricing | Essentially absent |
| Growth opportunity | Primarily geographic expansion, tenders, and shortage substitution |
| Long-term outlook | Flat to declining baseline demand |
A manufacturer with an efficient sterile facility can generate recurring cash flow from the product, particularly where competition is limited. The product is less attractive for companies seeking high-margin branded growth because it lacks exclusivity and has limited ability to support price increases.
No major innovator company publicly breaks out penicillin G procaine sales. Pfizer reports broad pharmaceutical revenue categories and does not provide a separate public revenue line for this product. Historical brands such as Wycillin are not reliable indicators of current sales because branding, authorization status, and commercial availability have changed over time.
Which companies manufacture or supply penicillin G procaine?
Supply varies by jurisdiction. Product availability depends on national marketing authorizations, tender awards, facility registrations, and local distributor arrangements.
Potential supplier categories include:
- Generic injectable manufacturers.
- Regional sterile-dose pharmaceutical companies.
- Government or nonprofit procurement suppliers.
- Veterinary pharmaceutical companies.
- Contract manufacturers with penicillin-class production capability.
Pfizer is associated with major penicillin injectable products, particularly Bicillin L-A and Bicillin C-R, but those products should not be treated as equivalent to standalone penicillin G procaine. Bicillin C-R contains both benzathine penicillin G and procaine penicillin G and has a separate clinical and regulatory profile.
A supplier cannot automatically switch from benzathine penicillin to procaine penicillin G without addressing formulation, labeling, clinical use, stability, manufacturing validation, and regulatory requirements.
What is the FDA regulatory status of penicillin G procaine?
FDA status is product-specific. The existence of a historical approval or a DailyMed label does not establish that a product is currently marketed.
The U.S. regulatory position has several elements:
- Penicillin G procaine is an established active ingredient with long-standing use.
- Products require an approved new drug application, abbreviated new drug application, or other applicable authorization.
- Injectable products must meet sterility, potency, particulate matter, container-closure, and stability requirements.
- Penicillin-class manufacturing requires controls for cross-contamination and sensitization risks.
- A product listed in FDA databases may be marketed, discontinued, or unavailable depending on the source and reporting date.
FDA’s Orange Book is the principal source for approved drug products and patent or exclusivity information. For an old generic injectable such as penicillin G procaine, the commercial question is usually product availability rather than remaining regulatory exclusivity (FDA, 2024a).
What is the Orange Book status of penicillin G procaine?
There is no commercially important Orange Book patent estate associated with penicillin G procaine comparable to a modern branded drug. Any relevant Orange Book entries must be evaluated by specific product, dosage form, applicant, and marketing status.
The original active-ingredient patents expired decades ago. Current products generally compete as established generic or legacy injectable products. A patent listed against a particular combination product, delivery system, or branded formulation would not automatically protect standalone penicillin G procaine.
What patents protect penicillin G procaine?
No active composition-of-matter patent is expected to protect the underlying penicillin G procaine molecule in the United States, Europe, or other mature pharmaceutical markets.
Patent categories that may still matter
Although the drug itself is old, a supplier may hold rights involving:
- Manufacturing processes.
- Crystallization or salt-handling methods.
- Stabilization systems.
- Injectable suspension compositions.
- Vial, syringe, or container systems.
- Combination products containing procaine penicillin and benzathine penicillin.
- Veterinary formulations.
- Region-specific formulation or process claims.
These rights are narrower than a core molecule patent and may not prevent competitors from selling a conventional penicillin G procaine injection.
| Patent category | Commercial relevance |
|---|---|
| Composition of matter | No meaningful remaining protection expected |
| Basic therapeutic use | Historically expired or vulnerable to invalidity |
| Manufacturing process | Potentially relevant in specific jurisdictions |
| Suspension formulation | Relevant only if claim scope is narrow and valid |
| Combination product | Can protect a product such as benzathine/procaine combinations |
| Device or packaging | Limited, product-specific protection |
| Method of use | Usually weak for routine generic indications |
When does penicillin G procaine lose exclusivity?
Penicillin G procaine lost core pharmaceutical exclusivity many decades ago. There is no single current U.S. loss-of-exclusivity date because the molecule has long been generic and product-specific approvals may have different histories.
The relevant commercial timeline is:
| Period | Market event |
|---|---|
| 1940s | Procaine penicillin G introduced into clinical use |
| 1960s-1980s | Core pharmaceutical patent protection expired across major markets |
| 1990s onward | Market shifted to generic and institutional procurement |
| 2000s-2020s | Commercial value became concentrated in sterile manufacturing and supply reliability |
| Current market | No meaningful molecule-level exclusivity; availability and tender access determine performance |
FDA pediatric exclusivity, orphan exclusivity, and modern new chemical entity exclusivity are not expected to provide meaningful protection for conventional penicillin G procaine products.
Are there Paragraph IV challenges involving penicillin G procaine?
Paragraph IV litigation is unlikely to be commercially significant for conventional penicillin G procaine because the underlying product is old and lacks a valuable patent barrier.
A Paragraph IV certification is relevant only when an ANDA applicant challenges a listed patent for a specific reference product. If no enforceable patent is listed, an ANDA applicant can generally proceed through other certification pathways, subject to regulatory requirements.
Potential litigation would be more likely to involve:
- A combination product.
- A new suspension or delivery system.
- A branded reference product with formulation patents.
- A manufacturing process with commercial value.
- A dispute over approval status or market exclusivity rather than molecule ownership.
No widely recognized, current Paragraph IV campaign has reshaped the standalone U.S. penicillin G procaine market.
What formulation patents protect penicillin G procaine?
Formulation protection is limited because the conventional product is an established aqueous suspension of procaine penicillin G for intramuscular administration. A valid formulation patent would need claims that are novel, non-obvious, and technically distinct from known procaine penicillin preparations.
Potentially protectable elements could include:
- A specific particle-size distribution.
- Improved suspension stability.
- Reduced injection pain.
- Extended storage stability.
- A prefilled delivery system.
- A combination with another penicillin salt.
- A defined excipient system.
These claims would not necessarily prevent a competitor from marketing a conventional vial formulation that uses a different composition or manufacturing process.
What manufacturing and intellectual-property barriers exist?
The principal barrier is manufacturing execution, not patent ownership.
Sterile manufacturing
Penicillin products require highly controlled facilities because beta-lactam contamination can create serious occupational and patient-safety risks. Manufacturers may need dedicated areas, validated cleaning procedures, segregated equipment, and robust environmental monitoring.
Active pharmaceutical ingredient supply
The active ingredient and related intermediates are part of a globally concentrated antibiotic supply chain. Disruptions can result from:
- Plant shutdowns.
- Quality findings.
- Environmental controls.
- Raw-material shortages.
- Regulatory remediation.
- Low supplier economics.
Low-price economics
The product’s price often provides limited room to absorb higher costs for labor, energy, quality testing, serialization, and compliance. This creates a risk that suppliers exit the market even when clinical demand remains.
What patent litigation and settlement agreements affect the market?
No major current patent litigation or settlement agreement is known to determine the standalone penicillin G procaine market. Litigation risk is materially lower than for newer branded anti-infectives.
Commercial disputes are more likely to involve:
- Government procurement contracts.
- Product shortages.
- Manufacturing defects.
- Recall obligations.
- Distribution agreements.
- Product liability.
- Regulatory enforcement.
- Veterinary marketing rights.
Settlement agreements involving other penicillin products, including branded benzathine/procaine combinations, should not be applied automatically to standalone penicillin G procaine.
What generic entry risks exist?
Generic entry risk is high because the underlying active ingredient is mature and alternative suppliers can potentially enter once regulatory requirements are met. However, entry is not frictionless.
Risks to incumbent suppliers
- New ANDA or national generic approvals.
- Tender price compression.
- Hospital substitution.
- Product delisting or discontinuation by distributors.
- Competition from benzathine or aqueous penicillin G.
- Veterinary products replacing human products in some channels.
Risks to new entrants
- Small addressable market.
- High sterile manufacturing costs.
- Need for penicillin segregation.
- Limited pricing upside.
- Complex supply-chain qualification.
- Difficulty securing predictable institutional volume.
- Regulatory scrutiny of injectable suspensions.
The market can therefore have high theoretical generic competition but only a small number of active suppliers.
How does penicillin G procaine compare with benzathine penicillin?
Benzathine penicillin generally has stronger commercial relevance in syphilis because it is the preferred long-acting formulation in major guidelines. Procaine penicillin G has a more limited role and is often used when a specific clinical regimen or local supply situation supports it.
| Factor | Penicillin G procaine | Penicillin G benzathine |
|---|---|---|
| Main use | Selected infections and alternative neurosyphilis regimen | Syphilis and selected streptococcal infections |
| Injection frequency | Often daily or more frequent than benzathine | Extended-release intramuscular dosing |
| Public-health importance | Moderate and indication-specific | High in syphilis control |
| Brand visibility | Limited | Higher, including Bicillin L-A |
| Shortage sensitivity | High | Very high |
| Patent value | Minimal | Product-specific legacy and formulation considerations |
| Substitution risk | High | Lower where guideline preference is explicit |
The two formulations cannot be treated as interchangeable from a clinical, regulatory, or commercial perspective.
What is the geographic coverage of the market?
Penicillin G procaine has the broadest potential commercial relevance in markets with:
- High use of injectable generics.
- Public-sector procurement.
- Limited access to newer antibiotics.
- Continued veterinary demand.
- Local clinical protocols using procaine penicillin.
- Weak commercial incentives for branded alternatives.
North America and Western Europe have mature regulatory systems and limited molecule-level exclusivity. Emerging markets may offer larger volume opportunities but introduce pricing pressure, tender dependence, currency exposure, local registration requirements, and variable quality standards.
In low- and middle-income countries, international procurement agencies may prioritize benzathine penicillin for syphilis rather than procaine penicillin G. The product’s opportunity therefore depends heavily on national treatment guidelines and procurement specifications.
What is the competitive landscape?
The competitive landscape is fragmented and channel-specific.
| Competitor type | Competitive advantage |
|---|---|
| Large multinational injectable manufacturers | Regulatory infrastructure and supply reliability |
| Regional generic companies | Lower manufacturing and distribution costs |
| Government suppliers | Public-health alignment and tender access |
| Veterinary manufacturers | Established animal-health distribution |
| Alternative penicillin formulations | Clinical interchangeability in selected settings |
| Non-penicillin antibiotics | Broader indications or easier administration |
The strongest competitive advantage is dependable supply at an acceptable tender price. Branding has limited value unless linked to regulatory reliability, shortage performance, or a trusted hospital procurement relationship.
What are the likely launch scenarios for a new supplier?
A new supplier would most likely enter through one of four routes:
- A national generic approval followed by hospital or government tenders.
- Contract manufacturing for an established distributor.
- Veterinary registration in a market with recurring animal-health demand.
- Shortage-driven entry when incumbent supply is interrupted.
A premium branded launch is unlikely to succeed without a meaningful formulation, device, or service improvement. A low-cost tender strategy is more consistent with the product’s economics.
Key Takeaways
- Penicillin G procaine is a mature injectable antibiotic with no meaningful remaining molecule-level patent exclusivity.
- Product-level revenue is not separately disclosed by major pharmaceutical companies.
- The financial profile is low-margin, volume-sensitive, and vulnerable to sterile manufacturing costs.
- Supply reliability, regulatory compliance, and tender access matter more than patent protection.
- Paragraph IV litigation and patent settlements are unlikely to materially affect the standalone product market.
- Benzathine penicillin is the more commercially important formulation in syphilis treatment.
- The main barriers to entry are facility segregation, sterile manufacturing, quality compliance, low pricing, and uncertain volume.
- Revenue upside is most likely during shortages, public-health campaigns, or expansion into underserved procurement markets.
FAQs
Is penicillin G procaine still commercially available?
Availability varies by country and product authorization. Historical labels and database records do not establish current commercial supply. Current availability must be assessed by jurisdiction and manufacturer.
Is penicillin G procaine the same as Bicillin L-A?
No. Bicillin L-A contains benzathine penicillin G. Penicillin G procaine contains procaine benzylpenicillin. The products have different pharmacokinetics, labeling, and clinical uses.
Can a generic company obtain strong pricing for penicillin G procaine?
Usually not. The product is exposed to generic tender competition and has no meaningful molecule-level exclusivity. Pricing power may improve temporarily during shortages.
Does penicillin G procaine have biosimilar competition?
No. Penicillin G procaine is a small-molecule antibiotic, not a biologic. Competition occurs through generic drug approvals rather than biosimilar pathways.
Is penicillin G procaine attractive for pharmaceutical licensing?
Licensing value is generally limited for the conventional product. The strongest opportunities involve an established regulatory approval, reliable sterile capacity, exclusive regional distribution, veterinary rights, or a differentiated delivery system.
References
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021: Neurosyphilis, ocular syphilis, and otosyphilis. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/neurosyphilis.htm
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024a). Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-approvals-and-databases/orange-book-data-files
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024b). Drugs@FDA: FDA-approved drugs. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/
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World Health Organization. (2016). WHO guidelines for the treatment of Treponema pallidum (syphilis). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241549714
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DailyMed. (2024). Label information for penicillin-class injectable products. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/
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