Generic versions of clopidogrel with the alternate besilate salt form have started to capture substantial portions of the Plavix/Iscover (clopidogrel bisulfate) market, according to a research report from Sanford Bernstein analyst Timothy Anderson. Many European countries– but not the US–  consider alternative salt forms of drugs to be acceptable generic equivalents.

Generic clopidogrel now holds 50% of the market share in Germany, according to the research report. In France the market share of Plavix dropped by 35% in only two months, though Anderson points out that Sanofi Aventis, which markets Plavix/Iscover in partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb, launched its own generic version in that country. In the UK Plavix market share has dropped by 50% over six months.