Why do some prescription drugs not have a generic form?
2007-06-07 03:52:38 · 12 answers · asked by Trouble's Mama 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
Wow, thanks for the fast and complete answers. It really stinks because the medications my children and I take have no generic and even with prescription insurance, it costs an arm & a leg... mine would be $355/month w/o insurance. My children's is $280 or so per month and it's just for GERD, we don't have anything extremely serious. I was just wondering.. so thank you all! :)
2007-06-07 03:58:43 · update #1
Generic drugs come out after the initial patent the company has on the drug expires. The company that develops the drug spends millions and millions of dollars on each drug they test and they have to make that up somewhere. The FDA gives each new patent 15 years from the initial patent date. Then after a lot of testing, the drug gets sent to pharmacies, where the prices are higher than most generics so they can get some of the money back on their investment. After the 15 year patent, generic companies are allowed to make different versions of the same drug and that is where some cost savings comes in.
2007-06-07 03:57:19 · answer #1 · answered by dusmul78 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Generic forms of drugs start to appear on the market after the initial patent runs out. Usually in 10-20 years.
That is why drug makers are always altering (or trying to) the formula of their drugs slightly so they can get a new patent.
2007-06-07 03:56:56 · answer #2 · answered by Captain Algae 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
New drugs are protected by patents. This was done to allow the Pharm. Cos. to recoup the costs of research and development of these drugs, as well as make a profit.
If they allowed generic drugs right away, they would lose money, and would stop doing research. Then...no more new drugs and cures for illnesses
2007-06-07 03:56:06 · answer #3 · answered by Chief BaggageSmasher 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
drug companies are allowed a certain number of years that the drug is patented and not allowed to be made generically, then after those years are up and it is made generically, those companies pay a kick back to the original creators of the drug.
2007-06-07 06:55:39 · answer #4 · answered by Angela C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It appears the 500 mg dose will be going off patent this year. I am not quite sure about the 250 mg dose because it has a patent reaching into 2018.
2016-04-01 07:52:15 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they are still under patent and the property of the lab that developed them.
2007-06-07 03:55:43 · answer #6 · answered by claudiacake 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When a drug company spends millions to develop a drug they are given exclusive rights for a period of time.
2007-06-07 03:55:28 · answer #7 · answered by Barkley Hound 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Generics can only be made after the original patient for the med. is expired.
2007-06-07 04:02:48 · answer #8 · answered by Charles B 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Its because the drug company that makes the original wont let the drug be made generically
2007-06-07 03:55:02 · answer #9 · answered by shirley e 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
They are still under patent protection.
2007-06-07 03:54:23 · answer #10 · answered by Dave M 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋