All about Generic Medicines

When buying medicines nowadays, we are commonly confronted with a choice on two seemingly different but really similar products: branded and generic medicines. At a time when the need for safety assurance is critical on one hand and wise spending on the other, this dilemma is a perfect representation of the choices man must make.

Before we go into what distinguishes generic from branded drugs, let us first find out some of the things that separate them. With branded products, medicines included, the cost is a lot higher. This is because part of the cost goes to the "name" or "tag" of the product. This is due to the fact that branded medicines spend more on promotions and other overhead costs compared to generic medicines that do not spend for such. As a result, generic medicines are a lot cheaper than branded medicines. It is much like the difference between free software and branded software. To put it in another perspective, you will be aghast to find out that your shirt made by an infamous brand lasts just as long as the one you bought from a famous brand.

Just as Good as the Branded Ones

One of the most prevailing notions is that generic drugs are no better than branded drugs. This mentality is a result of the frequent advertisements ran by pharmaceutical companies to improve their market performance. But of course, it is not true that generic drugs are inferior to their branded counterparts. Both drugs are actually tested under the same laboratory conditions, and both meet the same specified industry standards for the drug of its type. So don't fall for those fancy and colorful designs and those clever packaging: when it comes to the need of a sick man, a generic drug is just as good as a branded drug and it does not leave your pocket hurting.

So how come a cheaper drug is on par with branded drugs? This important piece of reassuring news is made by the fact that generic drugs are also regulated the same way that branded medicines are. In particular, the Food and Drug Administration is the agency that is tasked with regulating the market of drug products. The slightest failure to comply with their stringent standards can lead to a recall of the product or outright halting of productions. Even the manufacturing plants themselves are not free as they are also regularly inspected and monitored. Even when the products or the medicines in this case-reach the market, random tests are also conducted to make sure that only the right drugs will be taken in by patients in terms of their strength and materials used. This is why our production plant in India has also upgraded its capabilities to make sure that it remains compliant with the regulations of pharmaceutical monitoring agencies anywhere in the world.

Just as Good as the Patented Ones

Generic drugs are not patented, which is precisely why they are cheaper. But before you raise your brows, it is important to mention that the absence of a patent does not make any drug less trustworthy nor does it make one with a patent so dependable. Still the question persists: why are generic drugs without a patent?

Before we attempt to answer that question, let us first examine why companies secure a patent in the first place. They do this mainly to see to it that they will have the exclusive right to produce the product. This is because a patent is a form of protection from the law for the intellectual output of a group or person and prevents others from copying and manufacturing them under their names. By the same token, the patent also assures the inventor of the product a free hand in producing the product under his sole name. On the other hand, if the owner of the patent does not have the capability to produce medicines on his own, he may transfer the right to other person or parties up to the time that the patent expires.

To go back to the question as to why generic drugs are without a patent, the simple answer is that some companies see to it as their social responsibility to provide quality yet very affordable medicines to the public. It is one way to make sure that every suffering person will not die without tasting what it feels like to fight back ailment because one could not afford the price of branded medicines. With generic medicines, every person has a fighting chance to be restored back to health.

Just as Legal as the Branded Ones

Absolutely. The absence of patent in generic drugs does not necessarily make them illegal. This is because they are usually produced only if there is no existing patent for a drug or if the existing patent has expired. In some cases, very clever companies produce generic drugs because they know that the patent for branded drugs is difficult to enforce. Likewise, there are some provisions in the laws of some countries where specific patents could not be imposed especially those involving very critical medicines that very few people can afford. So the bottom line here is that generic drugs are just as safe and effective as branded drugs.

When it comes to producing generic drugs, India is known as the leader in the field. Starting with laws passed four decades ago, India began producing generic alternatives to well-known medicines to provide a cheaper alternative to the public. This however does not mean that just about any company may produce generic drugs that may be below par because the quality is strictly monitored through the enforcement of industry standards.

To enhance its production capacity to churn out cheap generic medicines, India imports the materials that domestic production cannot meet, resulting to bigger savings. No wonder then that India has become the supplier for about half of the world's need for antiretrovirals.
Some of the products we sell are produced by the following Indian pharmaceutical companies:

• Ajanta Pharma
• Aurochem Laboratories
• German Remedies
• Glenmark Pharmaceuticals
• Ind-Swift Laboratories
• Intas Pharmaceuticals
• Micro Labs
• Olcare Laboratories
• Ranbaxy Laboratories
• Sun Pharmaceutical Industries
• The Chemical, Industrial   Pharmaceutical Laboratories (Cipla)
• Unichem Laboratories
• Unicure Remedies

These Indian pharmaceutical companies are world-famous producers of generic drugs and are widely respected for the quality of the products they offer. If you visit their site, you will find there a wealth of information on them such as their products, quality control, research laboratories, technology services, and bits of pharmaceutical news.

Just as Good but Ultimately Cheaper

So to go back to the question of many, generic drugs are cheaper simply because they have no overhead costs compared to branded drugs. These overhead costs cover the expenses for research and marketing. Specifically, it is on the field of marketing and advertising where majority of the costs of medicines go to. This is the expense for the ad you see on TV, which has nothing to do with the quality of the medicine.

But even if generic drugs are cheaper, one must remember not to rush embracing them right away. Attractive as it seems, you must consult its use first with your physician. After all, your health is the one issue you cannot afford to compromise.