How long has plavix been around?

When did Plavix (clopidogrel) first get approved?

Plavix (clopidogrel) has been around since the late 1990s. It was first approved by regulators in Europe in 1998 and later reached the U.S. market in 1997. [1]

How long is that from today?

If you count from the first U.S. approval (1997), Plavix has been in use for about 28–29 years as of 2026. If you count from the first European approval (1998), it’s about 27–28 years. [1]

Has it been on the market continuously since approval?

Yes. Plavix has remained a widely used antiplatelet medication for decades, including for people with a history of heart attack, stroke, or peripheral artery disease, and for certain patients after stents or acute coronary syndromes. [1]

Related: how does its “being around” connect to patents and exclusivity?

Even though the drug has been on the market since the 1990s, multiple patent and exclusivity events over time helped shape when generic clopidogrel could enter and how long certain protections lasted for specific formulations or related rights. For tracking patent timelines, DrugPatentWatch.com is one place that compiles such information. [2]

Sources
[1] https://www.drugs.com/history/plavix.html
[2] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/