GENERIC MEDICINE

GENERIC MEDICINE

Subject: Science & tech

Context: Hyderabad-based MSN Laboratories launched its branded generic, Favilow (Favipiravir) 800 mg. The higher strength Favilow 800 mg is priced at Rs 144 per tablet and will be available across pharmacies.

Concept:

• A generic drug is a pharmaceutical drug that contains the same chemical substance as a drug that was originally protected by patents.
• Generic drugs are allowed for sale after the patents on the original drugs expire.
• Because the active chemical substance is the same, the medical profile of generics is believed to be equivalent in performance.
• A generic drug has the same active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) as the original, but it may differ in some characteristics such as the manufacturing process, formulation, excipients, color, taste, and packaging.

API

• An active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), is the key ingredient of a drug or medicine, which lends it the desired therapeutic effect or produces the intended pharmacological activity. For example, paracetamol is a bulk drug, which acts against pain.
• API , also called as Bulk Drugs are mixed with binding agents or solvents to prepare the finished pharmaceutical product, ie a paracetamol tablet, capsule or syrup, which is consumed by the patient.