What are generics?

The development of new active ingredients for a medicine is an long and expensive process. This is why new active ingredients are protected by a patent for a certain time. When the patent expires, other pharmaceutical companies may market medicines with the same active ingredient, known as generics.

A generic´s active ingredient is identical to the original in terms of quality as well as quantity.

Which advantages do generics have?

Generics companies do not have high costs to bear when researching into a medicine. This is why they are able to offer the medicine at a lower price than the original. In this way, generics contribute to cost-effective medical care for the whole population whilst maintaining high quality at the same time. In 2002, German panel doctors saved a total of € 5.7 billion for the German health insurance system by prescribing generics.

Generic medicines are available for use in a wide range of situations. The range includes both prescription and over-the-counter medicines.