These types of drugs are usually cheaper, but … do they have any drawbacks?
In this article we will solve all these doubts and, in addition, we will know the characteristics of them, as well as their advantages and disadvantages. Finally, we will talk about figures and mention some curious facts.
Generic drugs: what are they and where do they come from?
To understand what generic drugs are, let’s first explain how they arise within the pharmaceutical industry.
In the pharmaceutical sector, when a new drug goes on sale, a particular laboratory has its “patent”; The patent implies that you have all the rights regarding the drug (its commercialization, its manufacture, its benefits …).
Only and exclusively this laboratory will have the rights that allow it to benefit from the sale of the drug (there will be no other brands that can “copy” the drug and market it).
Patents last for 20 years (from the time the drug is registered). Once they expire (when it is considered that the patent has already been amortized, after 20 years), these drugs are “free” to be synthesized by other laboratories.
Thus, when drugs are no longer patented within the pharmaceutical industries, all industries can know their composition, and therefore, create homologous substances (they are generic drugs).
Why are they cheaper?
In this way, these drugs are substances homologous to brand-name drugs, but cheaper . This is so because the creation of generic drugs by the pharmaceutical industries has not had an additional cost for them in terms of rights or patents (since the drug no longer has any patent; the patent has expired).
In other words, they are cheaper because the industries that are synthesizing them have not paid for their previous research (only the synthesis), which the industries that synthesize brand-name drugs have paid for.
The price of generic drugs is established by health authorities (ie, the government of each country); On the other hand, the price of brand-name drugs is established by each laboratory or pharmacist, since they have the patent and therefore have the right to do so.
What does it consist on?
In Spain, generic drugs began to be marketed more than 15 years ago . These medicines, also popularly called “generics”, are medicines that contain the same active ingredient and in the same quantity as other brand-name medicines, but, on the other hand, generics are “not brand-name”.
They are identified by the acronym “EFG” (Generic Pharmaceutical Equivalent), which we see written on the medicine box, next to its name.
In addition to the active ingredient (active and main ingredient, the one that produces the main therapeutic effects of the drug), generic drugs may also contain other inactive ingredients; These are the ones that give the drug flavor, texture, shape, etc., but do not affect its effectiveness.
These inactive ingredients are often different in brand name drugs (even though they are the counterparts to generic drugs).
Features
The characteristics of generic drugs, compared to brand name drugs, are as follows.
1. Active ingredient
Generic drugs contain the same active ingredient as the brand name drugs of which they are counterparts.
2. Dosage
The dosage of this type of medication is the same as in brand name medications (always speaking of the homologues). The dosage refers to the dose of the drug, that is, the amount of active ingredient that is administered each time (according to the presentation).
3. Route of administration
The route of administration of generic drugs also has to be the same as that of their brand name counterparts. Let us remember that this route can be: oral, intravenous, intramuscular, topical, etc.
4. Terms of use
The conditions of use must also be the same . These include its indications, dosage, precautions, contraindications, adverse reactions and use in special conditions.
Advantage
The most remarkable advantage of generic drugs is that they are much cheaper than brand-name drugs (we have previously explained why). This means that the cost-benefit ratio is much more positive. On the other hand, the State often pays a part of these medicines.
The fact that they are cheaper drugs automatically entails the following advantage; and it is that, with long-term treatments, patients can finance the treatment much better.
Another advantage of generics is that they produce the same effects as brand name counterparts; that is, they are just as effective .
Disadvantages
One of the drawbacks of generic drugs is that they can cause some confusion for consumers . Many times people don’t know what differences exist between brand-name drugs and their generic counterparts, and even if there really are differences.
This can happen when a patient is offered a new (generic) medicine with a different brand name than the one they usually take. Sometimes this generates confusion or distrust in the consumer, and he may think that they are less effective or less safe drugs.
Similarly, in older people there is even more confusion in relation to generic drugs: many of them do not know exactly what they are, how they are similar and how they differ from brand-name drugs, etc. In addition, they can make a mistake buying one or the other.
On the other hand, not all brand name drugs have their generic drug counterpart; This is especially the case with the newest drugs, which still have a patent and therefore cannot be “copied”.
Data of interest
In terms of proportions, in Spain 30% of the medicines dispensed in pharmacies are generic medicines; in other countries, however, this figure reaches up to 60% (in Denmark, Germany, United States …).
If we talk about more general figures, it is known that approximately 13% of the turnover of the Spanish pharmaceutical sector belongs to generic medicines; In the European market, this figure rises to 18%.
As a curious fact, an investigation presented by the AESEG (Spanish Association of Generic Medicines) released the following results: 80% of Spaniards already trust generic drugs and 92% know or have ever heard of them.
References
- Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS). (2014). How Medicines and Health Products are regulated in Spain.
- García, AJ, Martosa, F., Leivab, F. and Sánchez de la Cuesta. (2003). Generics: good or bad? Doctors’ knowledge and attitudes towards generic drugs. Gac Sanit, 17(2): 144-9.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.