Frequenty Asked Questions

Brand name medications typically are given patent protection for 20 years from the date on which the application for the patent was filed. This provides protection for the pharmaceutical company that paid for the research, development, and marketing expenses of the new drug. The patent does not allow any other company to make and sell the drug. However, when the patent expires, other pharmaceutical companies, once approved, can start making and selling the generic version of the drug.

New drugs, like other new products, are usually protected by patents that prohibit others from making and selling copies of the same drug. Generic drugs tend to cost less than their brand-name counterparts because generic drug applicants do not have to repeat animal and clinical (human) studies that were required of the brand-name medicines to demonstrate safety and effectiveness. The reduction in upfront research costs means that, although generic medicines have the same therapeutic effect as their branded counterparts, they are typically sold at substantial discounts, an estimated 80 to 85% less, compared with the price of the brand-name medicine.

Yes, Majority of the medicines falls into generic category in India. In fact, India is the world’s biggest supplier of generic medicines.

In India 80-85% of prescribed medicines are Generics. However due to immense marketing by the pharma companies, the price benefit does not reach the patients and even the generic medicines are costing much higher.