E-drug: % Generics vs branded products (cont'd)
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Douglas,
I should like to see people on E-drug (and international bodies) start
using a common definition on generics to avoid confusion or
comparing apples with pears. This 'definition' is from a WHO
publication (WHO/DMP/RGS/98.5): The term generic product has
somewhat different meanings in different jurisdictions. Use of this
term is therefore avoided as much as possible, and the term
multisource pharmaceutical product is used instead.
Generic products may be marketed either under the approved
non-proprietary name or under a brand (proprietary) name. They
may be marketed in dosage forms and/or strengths different from
those of the innovator products. Where the term generic product is
used, it means a pharmaceutical product, usually intended to be
interchangeable with the innovator product, which is usually
manufactured after expiry of the patent or other exclusivity rights.
The term should not be confused with generic names for APIs.
(active pharmaceutical ingredient)
A generic drug is therefore any multisource product and include
both drugs with generic names and with brand names. Even the
patented drug becomes a multisource poduct (generic) after patent
expiry although that definition is not always used. If you want to
separate between the ex-patented and generics, it is better to call
the ex-patented not branded, but e.g. originator's brand or
innovator's brand.
Separately I am sending you the following article:
Nilsson JLG, Melander A. Use of generic drugs and effect of the
reference price system in Sweden. Drug Info J 2000;
34:1195-1200. Also available on the DIA website.Sweden includes
the off-patent product in the definition.
Do also search the E-drug archives as this has been debated many
times and figures have been given.
Kirsten
Kirsten Myhr
Head of Eastern Health Region Drug Information Centre
RELIS Ost
Ulleval University Hospital
0407 Oslo, Norway
Tel.: +47 23 01 64 11(o) Fax: +47 23 01 64 10
+47 22 56 05 85 (h) mobile: +47 416 38 747
myhr@online.no (h)
kirsten.myhr@relis.ulleval.no (w)
www.relis.no
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