Health Choices

If a doctor or pharmacist asks you to buy “the same drug, but cheaper” instead of an expensive drug, then he is most likely talking about generics, in other words, the cheaper analog of the original (branded) drug. Pharmacist Annete Rennhack agreed to answer “Pharmacynextdoor.com” on five popular readers’ questions about the generics.

- Are there generics are exactly the same as the original drug?

- Generally, yes. Generics have the same medicinal properties, because they contain the same active ingredients as the original. Side effects of the generic and brand match too. In general, the necessity of generics existence is proved by time. Generics are buying more than the original in countries like the U.S., U.K. or Sweden.

- Is it true that generic drugs are manufactured on older equipment than the original drugs?

- This is possible only in China or Mexico, where generics are not subject to the control of the international standard GMP (Good Manufacturing Products), or where generics are produced illegally. In India, for example, most of the manufacturers have perfectly new equipment.

Usually, generics, like the original tablets, FDA-approved drug which is produced by all the technological and hygienic standards. The manufacturing of generic drugs is actively engaged in all countries of the world. It’s just a separate branch of the pharmaceutical industry.

- How can we explain the low price of generic drugs?

- The development of a new original drug takes about 15 years; the research goes in many directions at once. Unfortunately, up to 90% of the projects – potential new products – are ineffective and do not go to the market.

Consequently, basically millions of dollars spend for nothing. These costs must be recovered by increasing the selling price of one or two drugs that have been successful.

Companies that produce generics, do not carry such incidental costs, theit task is to repeat what has already been developed up to them. Therefore, the drugs price of generics is more attractive to consumers. Generics usually are allowed to produce only when the original product sold in the market for several years.

- Generic – this is an exact copy of the original?

- If we consider the chemical composition of both, it turns out that in fact it is not a duplicate. Common is so-called “therapeutic core”, and the accompanying impurities can vary, either by quantitative composition or by qualitative. But they have no effect on the drug.

Upon expiration of a patent protection, an original company sells to other manufacturers only semi-finished of their brand – the formula. But the production does not reveal the secret.

- What about the prevalence? Do most of the brand drugs have their generic version?

- Almost yes. The exceptions are the recently established drugs that are still under patent protection, unique treatments for cancer and AIDS, which has the value of any optional ingredient.

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