Lexapro vs Zoloft: Who Makes Them and Does It Matter?

Two Pills, Two Very Different Histories

Lexapro (escitalopram) and Zoloft (sertraline) are two of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants in the United States. Both belong to the SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) class of medications. Both are available as generics. And both have helped millions of people manage depression and anxiety.

But the companies that originally created these medications have very different histories, and the generic versions you get at the pharmacy today may come from any number of manufacturers worldwide. Understanding the ownership behind your medication helps explain why drug pricing works the way it does and who profits from the pills you take.

The Original Brand Owners

Lexapro: Forest Laboratories to Allergan to AbbVie

Original developer: H. Lundbeck A/S (Danish pharmaceutical company)

U.S. marketer: Forest Laboratories

FDA approved: 2002

Active ingredient: Escitalopram oxalate

Lexapro was developed by Lundbeck, a Danish company specializing in psychiatric and neurological medications. Forest Laboratories held the exclusive U.S. marketing rights. In 2014, Actavis (later renamed Allergan) acquired Forest Laboratories for $25 billion. In 2020, AbbVie acquired Allergan for $63 billion.

So the chain of ownership for Lexapro's U.S. rights is: Forest Laboratories (2002) > Actavis/Allergan (2014) > AbbVie (2020). Lundbeck retains rights outside the U.S.

Lexapro's U.S. patent expired in 2012, and generic escitalopram is now widely available from dozens of manufacturers.

Zoloft: Pfizer

Developer and marketer: Pfizer Inc.

FDA approved: 1991

Active ingredient: Sertraline hydrochloride

Zoloft was developed and marketed entirely by Pfizer, one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. Pfizer discovered sertraline in the 1970s and brought it to market in 1991. Zoloft became one of Pfizer's blockbuster drugs, generating over $3 billion in annual sales at its peak.

Zoloft's U.S. patent expired in 2006, making it one of the earlier SSRIs to go generic. Generic sertraline is now one of the most prescribed medications in America, available from numerous manufacturers at very low cost.

The Generic Reality

Here is the critical point for consumers: most people taking "Lexapro" or "Zoloft" today are actually taking generics made by companies they have never heard of.

The top generic manufacturers of these medications include:

A significant portion of generic antidepressants consumed in America are manufactured by Indian pharmaceutical companies. This is not unusual; India produces approximately 40% of the generic medications used in the United States.

Head-to-Head: The Medical Comparison

Both Lexapro and Zoloft are effective SSRIs, but they have some clinical differences:

Both medications are considered first-line treatments for depression. The choice between them is typically based on a patient's specific symptoms, medical history, other medications, and individual response.

Why Ownership Matters in Pharma

Brand vs Generic Pricing

When Zoloft was still under patent, a month's supply cost approximately $150-200. Today, generic sertraline costs as little as $4 at many pharmacies. This price collapse happens when patents expire and generic manufacturers enter the market.

The original brand-name versions (Lexapro and Zoloft) are still technically available but are rarely prescribed because the generics are therapeutically equivalent and dramatically cheaper. Insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers almost always substitute the generic.

Who Profits Now?

Original developers (Pfizer, Lundbeck, AbbVie): Still earn revenue from remaining brand-name prescriptions and from other patented drugs in their portfolios. The SSRI patents were immensely profitable during their exclusivity period but are now expired.

Generic manufacturers (Teva, Aurobindo, etc.): Earn thin margins on high-volume generic sales. Competition among generic manufacturers keeps prices low.

Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs): CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx negotiate drug pricing and often earn significant margins as intermediaries.

Pharmacies: Earn dispensing fees and sometimes mark up generic prices above their acquisition cost.

Supply Chain Concerns

The concentration of generic manufacturing in India and other countries has raised supply chain concerns:

• COVID-19 disruptions in 2020-2021 highlighted vulnerabilities in overseas pharmaceutical supply chains
• FDA inspection challenges make quality oversight of foreign manufacturers more difficult
• Raw ingredient sourcing for many generic drugs traces back to Chinese chemical manufacturers

These supply chain realities mean that the antidepressant in your medicine cabinet may have been manufactured in India using active pharmaceutical ingredients from China, sold through a U.S. pharmacy chain, with pricing negotiated by a pharmacy benefit manager. The brand name on the prescription (Lexapro or Zoloft) may bear no relationship to who actually made the pill.

The Bigger Picture: Pharma Brand Consolidation

Lexapro and Zoloft illustrate a pattern playing out across the pharmaceutical industry:

1. Original developer creates the drug and earns patent-protected profits for 10-20 years.

2. The developer gets acquired. Forest Laboratories (Lexapro) was acquired by Actavis, which became Allergan, which was acquired by AbbVie. These corporate transactions are driven by the need to replenish drug pipelines as patents expire.

3. Patents expire and generics flood the market. The brand name becomes largely irrelevant as doctors and insurers switch to generics.

4. Generic manufacturers compete on volume and cost. Indian and Israeli companies dominate global generic manufacturing.

5. New patented drugs replace the old ones. AbbVie's current revenue depends on drugs like Skyrizi and Rinvoq, not on Lexapro. Pfizer's current revenue depends on drugs like Paxlovid and oncology treatments, not on Zoloft.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who makes Lexapro?

The brand-name Lexapro is marketed by AbbVie (through its Allergan subsidiary) in the U.S. and by Lundbeck internationally. Most patients receive generic escitalopram, manufactured by companies including Teva, Aurobindo, Mylan (Viatris), and others.

Who makes Zoloft?

The brand-name Zoloft is made by Pfizer. Most patients receive generic sertraline, manufactured by companies including Teva, Aurobindo, Lupin, Dr. Reddy's, and others.

Are generic versions the same as brand-name?

The FDA requires generic medications to contain the same active ingredient in the same dose and to demonstrate bioequivalence (similar absorption) to the brand-name version. The inactive ingredients (fillers, coatings, dyes) may differ, which occasionally affects how individual patients tolerate the medication.

Does it matter which generic manufacturer makes my medication?

For most patients, no. All FDA-approved generics meet the same bioequivalence standards. However, some patients report differences in side effects or efficacy between different generic manufacturers, possibly due to variations in inactive ingredients. If you notice a difference after switching generic manufacturers, discuss it with your doctor.

The Bottom Line

Lexapro and Zoloft were created by very different companies (Forest/Lundbeck and Pfizer) but have converged to the same outcome: widely available generics manufactured primarily by Indian and Israeli pharmaceutical companies. The brand names remain recognizable, but the corporate entities behind them have been reshuffled through acquisitions, mergers, and patent expirations. Understanding this ownership chain helps patients and consumers navigate an increasingly complex pharmaceutical marketplace.

Explore pharmaceutical brand ownership on WhoBrands or browse healthcare brands.

Sources

1. FDA. "Orange Book: Approved Drug Products." fda.gov 2. GoodRx. "Escitalopram and Sertraline Pricing Data." 2026. 3. Pfizer. "Zoloft Prescribing Information." 4. AbbVie/Allergan. "Lexapro Prescribing Information." 5. Association for Accessible Medicines. "U.S. Generic Drug Market Report." 2025.

All brand ownership data verified through WhoBrands.com's research methodology. Last updated: January 26, 2026.