Q: What’s the difference between a generic and a brand name drug?
A: Not much, except for name and price. Because generic drug manufacturers are not required to duplicate original medical studies proving the safety and efficiency of the chemical compound, they can produce generic versions at much lower costs, thus passing on these savings to the consumer.

Q: Why are generic drugs cheaper than brand name ones?
A: They’re less expensive because of the patent system. When they are first introduced, most new drugs are patent-protected by the government for 17 years. During that time, other companies can’t sell the drug. This allows the company that developed the drug to market it exclusively and make back the research money that was spent to develop it.

When the patent runs out, drug companies can apply to the Food and Drug Administration to sell generic versions of the drug. And because they don’t have to worry about investment costs, the competing companies can often sell the drug for 50 percent to 80 percent less than the cost of the brand name.

Q: What is the quality of generic drugs?
A: To be considered “bioequivalent / therapeutically equivalent” to its brand name counterpart, a generic drug must have the identical active chemical compounds as well as the quantity and speed of absorption of its active ingredients into the bloodstream. Sometimes the generic version of a drug may differ in color or shape from its brand name counterpart - these differences have no effect on the medical action of the drug and are for commercial or patent reasons only.

Q: What are the manufacturing standards for generic drugs?
A: The manufacturing facilities of all pharmaceutical companies, whether they are the makers of brand name or generic drugs, must pass stringent and regular inspections by the relevant authorities. There is no difference between the manufacturing standards set for generic pharmaceutical companies and those set for brand name pharmaceutical companies. Many companies that produce brand name drugs also make drugs sold under generic labels and vice versa.