Difference between branded and generic medicines

Generic medicines have the same active ingredients as brand name medicines and are just as effective but are usually less expensive.

Rakesh Dahiya

March 14, 2023

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Rakesh Dahiya

SDCO Cum Licensing Authority |
Food and Drugs Administration, (FDA) Haryana, India. |
Email ID: dahiya19@yahoo.com

Branded and generic medicines

When it comes to purchasing medication, you may come across the terms branded and generic medicines.

The two types of medicines have significant differences in price, packaging, and quality. In this article, we will explore the differences between brand name and generic medicines.

What is a Brand Name Medicine?:

A brand name medicine is a medication that has been manufactured and marketed by a pharmaceutical company under a specific brand name.

These medicines are usually protected by patents, which give the manufacturer exclusive rights to produce and sell the medication for a set period.

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What is a Generic Medicine?:

A generic medicine is a medication that has the same active ingredients as the brand name medicine, but it is not marketed under a specific brand name. (In some cases the generic medicines are also marketed under brand names, these are known as branded generic).

Generic medicines are usually less expensive than brand name medicines because they do not require the same amount of research and development costs as brand name medicines.

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Differences Between Branded and Generic Medicines:

There are several differences between brand name and generic medicines. Here are some of the most common differences:

Price:

Brand name medicines are usually more expensive than generic medicines.

This is because the manufacturer of the brand name medicine has invested a significant amount of money in research development and marketing cost, while the manufacturer of the generic medicine need not to spent on marketing.

Generic medicines are often sold at a fraction of the price of brand name medicines.

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Packaging:

Brand name medicines are usually packaged in a specific way with the brand name of the medicine prominently along with manufacturer’s name, logo and list of active ingredients displayed.

Generic medicines are packaged in a more generic way, having no brand name only with the generic name of the medicine and its active ingredients listed on the label. (In some cases the generic medicines are also marketed under brand names, as mentioned above)

Appearance:

Brand name medicines often have a unique appearance, such as a particular color or shape. Generic medicines may look different from the brand name medicine, but they have the same active ingredients and are just as effective.

Marketing:

Marketing cost including cost of marketing staff for the branded medicines are high where these such marketing cost is almost zero on generic medicines.