A generic drug (pl. generic drugs, short: generics) is a
drug which is produced and distributed without
patent protection. A generic must contain the same active ingredients as the original formulation. In most cases, it is considered
bioequivalent to the
brand name counterpart with respect to
pharmacokinetic and
pharmacodynamic properties. By extension, therefore, generics are assumed to be identical in dose, strength, route of administration, safety, efficacy, and intended use. In most cases, generic products are not available until the
patent protections afforded to the original developer have expired. When generic products become available, the market competition often leads to substantially lower prices for both the original brand name product and the generic forms. The time it takes a generic drug to appear on the market varies. Drug patents give twenty years of protection, but they are applied for before clinical trials begin, so the effective life of a drug patent tends to be between seven and twelve years.
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