What are generic drugs?

• Description of the product
• Can you trust generic drugs just as branded medications?
• How the control of generic drugs is carried out?
• Issues of the patent policy for generic drugs
• Reasons for lower price of generics

What does term “generics” mean?

Many of the customers are concerned about switching to generic medication and misbelieves connected with this form of drugs. Is the lower price the only difference between generic products and their brand named counterparts?
Let’s look at some of the issues involved.
All items that we consume are divided into generics and branded. Brand-name products require a lot of marketing efforts such as media advertising, presentations, distribution of free samples etc.
When it comes to pharmaceutical industry generics consist of similar active components and can be consumed in the same dosage as branded medications. Generic drugs have similar intended use, effects, side effects, risks, safety and strength as their brand-name equivalents.
Generic versions usually differ from the branded medications by the name of medication and appearance. Once brand-name products have been trademarked they cannot be copied, that is why generics are shaped differently or are manufactured in a distinctive from branded product color. Additionally, generic pills are labeled with the name of manufacturer. Although the price of generics is considerably lower, they are identical to the brand name counterparts.

Can you trust generic drugs just as branded medications?

Similar standards of evaluation are applied to both brand-name medications and their generic versions. Generic drugs undergo same laboratory testing as brand-name medication to verify the same effect on the body. Generic medicines have identical side effects as their brand-name substitutes and affect children and senior people in a similar manner.

	Brand-namedmedication	Genericmedication
Name,Appearance & Color	Different
Active Ingredient, Dosage & Effect	Similar
Regulation & Reliability	FDA approved	Indian FDA approved. Tested under the same standards as brand name drugs.
Price	High/expensive	Low/cheap. As there is no need to spend money on research, marketing & advertising.

How the control of generic drugs is carried out?

Regulatory boards require generic drugs to be approved same as brand-name drugs by FDA (Food and Drug Administration), that is aimed to control the market and secure the customers. FDA investigates if pharmaceutical manufacturers and their products are able to meet FDA standards; otherwise they are to be recalled. Every year The U.S Food and Drug Administration reviews approximately 3,500 drug manufactures to guarantee that appropriate quality is followed. For example, Intas (one of our   in India) has improved its manufacturing facilities. It has obtained regulatory approval of agencies like FDA, MHRA, TGA, ANVISA.

Issues of the patent policy for generic drugs

Although generic drugs do not have a patent, they work the same way.
By granting exclusive intellectual property rights, patent protects manufacturing drug company for a limited period of time in exchange for a public revelation of the information about the invention. Manufacturers can produce and sell their medicines on the market for a certain period of time as the only owners of the copyrights. Therefore, patent provides protection measures for a trademark for their products as an intellectual property. Possessing companies are able to delegate or carry over the right to other parties. It is true only during the life of patent.
As soon as patent expires other drug companies can start selling the generic version of the drug. Most drug patents are generally protected for 20 years. However, until the medicine is on the pharmacy shelf it undergoes research and development before final approval. This process normally takes seven to twelve years in the United States pharmaceutical system.  
When following conditions exist generic drugs can be manufactured:

• The patent has been terminated

2. The medication patent is illegitimate, or difficult to implement
3. Absence of a drug patent from the outset
4. Under government where U.S. patents are not established.

More information about legal framework of generic production is included to Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984. This law essentially increased the protection of patented products, but also allows generic medicines makers to produce their medicines. Generic medicine is effective, safe and legally confirmed.
Patent policy exists all over the world. However, patenting standards may differ from country to country. For example, in India Patent Act was established in 1970 and provided its pharmaceutical manufacturers with the right to produce low-cost equivalents of branded medications. In 2004 Indian government supplemented patent policy with permission for chemicals.

Nowadays, around 6 000 of patents are registered under the Indian government. Its patent policy is assumed to benefit from investments in production of generic medicines in order to disseminate them to customers at cheap prices.

Due to this fact, India has possessed almost the half of the world's antiretrovirals.
Our medications are represented by the following Indian Pharmaceutical Companies:

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

Every manufacturer provides you with detailed description of each product, research structures, pharmaceutical innovations, technology services and testing regulations. Our suppliers proved their reliability during 5-year cooperation. Low cost of the medications and high quality of the products allow our consumers to buy generic drugs wholesale.

Reasons for lower price of generics

Generics are able to offer a significant price advantage over the originator brands since they do not require developing and marketing a new drug. Generally, generic medications are produced abroad and customers are able to buy them online. They do not demand any advertising, investigation or expenses for maintenance of the pharmacy store; therefore, price of the medication is considerably lower.
According to the research of US FDA and its branch, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research can save an average of 52% buying generics instead of branded drugs. Furthermore, due to the presence of generic drugs the price of the medication can drop off to 14%.
The Drug purchase in the US market 
Branded drugs, 56 %
Generic drugs, 44 %

Nowadays, generics can substitute 44% of their brand named counterpart. Although, in every case it is recommended to consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not hesitate to ask your doctor if the advised medicine for your condition is available in generic version. that you are currently taking can be replaced with generic drugs. By switching to generic drugs you will benefit from the money saved and similar effectiveness of your drug dosage.