Generic Drugs

What are they and how to identify them?

What is a generic drug?

Generics are drugs that, because they don't include patent costs, can reach the market at a considerable lower cost. In Portugal and since October 2008 the price can be at least 30% lower than brand-name drugs. However, generic drugs can be up to 90% cheaper.

Generic drugs contain the same active substance, pharmaceutical form, dosage and prescription, having been prove their bioequivalence to the originator. As so, it guarantees the same efficiency and safety as the original product and is subject to the same quality control carried out in Portugal by Infarmed, the National Authority of Medicines and Health Products.

How to identify a generic drug?

While the original medicines are known by the brand name, generic drugs are identified only by the name of the active substance - the International Non-proprietary Name (INN) - and distinguished by the presence of the initials "MG" on the packaging.

Why so much talk about generics

Throughout the world there are ever more drugs available in generic form as the patents that protect their exclusivity expire - usually 10 to 20 years after the launch of the original. With benefits for all: to save on costly treatments, we can contribute to better management of available resources in each family and country. That's why in the U.S., Germany, Denmark and the United Kingdom, generics already represent more than half of the medicines sold. In Portugal, only 15% of the medicines prescribed are generics. But every year there are more opportunities to save.