Question

What is the difference between brand and generic meds?

23 August 2024. Related: Access to treatment, All topics.

What is the difference between generic and branded ARVs?

Are generic ones as effective?

Answer

Answer: Simon Collins

Hi there

Brand meds is just the marketing name given to a drug.

Often, this is the first time a drug has been produced. The manufacturer will usually have been involved in researching the drug and in running the clinical studies that let to it being approved.

The time and investment in developing a new drug is usually rewarded with a patent. This means that they are the only company that can market and sell this drug until the patent runs out.

After patents run out, any other company can make their own versions of the same medicine. This is called a generic version.

Generic meds as just as effective as brand medicines for nearly every type of drug. They are also usually have a lower price.

Approximately 85% of all the meds used by the NHS are generic drugs.

See:
https://i-base.info/guides/starting/nhs-changes-and-generic-drugs