What are generics?
The invention of a new drug, the process of its testing, clinical research, and registration takes a long time. Sometimes it can take 10-15 years from the moment the active substance's molecule is received until the first package appears on sale. This process is costly, and therefore the original drug is often expensive. But later analogs appear on the market, which is often much cheaper. If they use the same active ingredient, the drug is called a generic.
What are generic drugs?
A generic drug, which means a medication created to be the same as an already marketed brand-name drug, is a drug that basically has the same quantity and quality of the active substance as in the original drug. It must be produced in the same dosage form as the reference. A prerequisite is the effectiveness of the generic.
​
After the drug's invention, the company receives a patent for the original molecule of the active substance. The exclusive rights to manufacture and sell remain with the company for 20 years. After that, other pharmaceutical companies can produce generics of the drug.
​
They have the same international non-proprietary name (INN), but the manufacturer has the right to change the packaging to give its own trade name to the medicinal product. Therefore, Ibuprofen and its generic Nurofen are on sale.
​
Generics are subject to equally stringent quality and efficacy requirements. Despite the use of the same active ingredient, the effect on the body may differ. This is due to several factors:
​
-
the composition of excipients - they are used in any medicine. Thanks to them, it is possible to give the form of a tablet, capsule or ointment, to provide fast solubility or prolonged action;
-
Quality of raw materials - in any pharmacological substance, there is a certain proportion of impurities. The effect of the finished medicine depends on their quantity.
​
Generic drugs undergo a large number of tests. A pharmaceutical company that produces a generic must prove that its effect is equivalent to the original drug. In studies, attention is paid to how quickly the drug is absorbed, what maximum concentration it reaches in the blood, and how quickly it is metabolized.
Some medicinal products require that the therapeutic effect also corresponds to the original. In this case, they are not limited to laboratory confirmation of the concentration of a substance in the blood, but patients' reaction is studied.
EXAMPLE
VS
Why are generics cheaper
than original drugs?
​
Choosing between the generic and the original when buying, many prefer the cheaper copy medicine. The low price of the generic drug is explained by the fact that the company did not spend money on its invention; testing the safety and effectiveness is one of the most expensive drug production stages. After all, the creation of an active substance molecule is accompanied by unsuccessful options.
​
The cost includes excipients. In pharmacology, their purpose is to shape to bind the main component.
​
If the manufacturer manages to buy the raw material cheaply, to exclude or change the component without losing its properties, then it will be possible to sell the medicine at a low price.
To reduce the cost of a new drug helps to optimize the cost of taxes and reduce the cost of human labour. Often, the production of generics is located in India, China, where workers' wages are lower. But thanks to high-tech production, it is possible to maintain the high quality of the drug.
​
But the cost of a generic is not always lower than the original. If the manufacturer initially purchased expensive raw materials for production, increased packaging, and marketing costs, the final cost may exceed the reference drug. For example, tablets for the treatment of type 2 diabetes Glucophage are the original, and Siofor is a generic drug that costs more than the standard in the same dosage.
Why isn't a normal model
so effective?
​
In mindfulness medicine, the drug's active substance and its effect on the human body should be equal to that of the original drug. But some doctors and patients claim that the use of certain medicines can be very different. This often happens when buying antibiotic medications. The original medicine is sold in Augmentin Farms Amoxiclav and Femoklav. According to the doctor, the photocopy, in this case, is no worse than the original.
​
But not all drugs are possible. A reduction in performance may be observed for manufacturers that use herbs with different ingredients than the original ingredients. Generally, they are the ingredients of the ingredient and have no therapeutic effect. But they may have allergies or personal intolerance, which will not allow patients to take generic medicines.
​
When normal drug testing is done in pharmaceuticals, the auxiliary segments do not show a negative effect, and all drug effects will remain. But later, when the drug is used in practice, the side effects may be more pronounced or less effective. These will increase the dose of the drug and increase the risk of harmful effects.
Do you have to
take medication?
​
About 60% of the generic drug market is a generic drug. Because of their cost and good performance, they are better than the original buyers with better buyer groups.
​
For most patients, it does not matter what the drug is used. Diclofenac is also effective against pain and inflammation, such as Volturno. And no one thinks what drug is invented first.
​
But in pharmacology, the demand for some medicines has increased. They are an antibiotic group for most treatment courses and are used to treat cancer patients during chemotherapy treatment. To determine the difference in drug efficacy, similar treatment studies should be performed. But for now, this stage is optional.
​
In the US, the Orange Book has been created to help doctors. This is a handbook that lists the actual medicines collected on the page. In the following sections of this book, you can find the simplest medicine you need to be effective. They make List A and are located on the green page. If the drug's name is found on the red pages of the book, it indicates that the drug is compatible with the effect, but the level of evidence is low.
​
Compared to original drugs, doctors sometimes prefer generic drugs. Therefore, compared to the integration mechanism, its generic pancreatin can help patients with malignancy. However, this advice is usually based on the experience of specific drugs and cannot be altered in every way. If you are not sure how effective it is, it is best to entrust your health to the original medicine manufacturer.