All medicines are the result of an extensive process of rigorous research and development taking many years, to make sure that they meet stringent safety, efficacy and quality standards.
In South Africa, when a company discovers a new medicine they are given up to 20 years of patent protection (that is, a competition-free period). This medicine is given a registered name that no one else can use or copy. This is known as an “ethical”, original or originator medicine.
When the patent expires, generic companies can apply to manufacture and sell the same molecule under their own brand name. This gets referred to as the generic equivalent of the originator medicine.
A generic medicine is one that contains identical amounts of the same active ingredient, in the same strength and in the same dosage form that has been approved by the regulatory authorities. It must also produce an equivalent effect on the body as the brand-name counterpart.
Adcock Ingram is the manufacturer of Adco generic medicines. This is good news for consumers as it offers you a choice of medicines and also provides you an opportunity to save money, because:
- Adco generic medicines are more affordable that the original.¹
- Adco generic medicines are supported by bioequivalence studies that prove they are as effective as the original medicine.
- Our country’s medical legislation endorses the use of generics to keep health costs down.
- Pharmacists are obliged to offer you a generic alternative if there is one available.
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