Many medicines have two names:
- the brand name given to a medicine by the pharmaceutical company that makes the medicine
- the scientific or generic name for the active ingredient of the medicine that is decided by an expert committee
For example, sildenafil is the generic name of a medicine that is used to treat erectile dysfunction (the inability to get and maintain an erection). However, the company that makes sildenafil, Pfizer, sells it under the brand name Viagra.
Another example is simvastatin, which is the generic name for a statin (cholesterol-lowering medicine), which is used to reduce the risk of heart disease. A company called Merck Sharp & Dohme Ltd (MSD) make a version of simvastatin under the brand name Zocor.
The branded version (Zocor) and the generic version (simvastatin) contain the same active ingredient, simvastatin. Both of them have the same clinical effect, but they can be made by different manufacturers and so have different names.
It is similar to buying branded washing powder or a supermarket’s equivalent; both products do the same job but the supermarket’s own version is much cheaper.
Brand names
During the first few years that a new medicine becomes available, it is usually marketed as a brand, under a name given by the pharmaceutical company that developed it.
Companies take out patents (exclusive rights) on each new drug they discover to ensure that they regain the money they spend on its development, usually around £550 million, and make a profit. Having a patent means that only that company can produce the medicine for a certain length time (usually up to 20 years in the UK). In exchange for this, the company must share information about the medicine and how it is produced.
On average, it takes the first 10 to 12 years of this period with a patent to develop a medicine and obtain a licence (see Medicines information - licensing). The company has the remaining years during which only they can produce and sell the medicine. They give the medicine a brand name for marketing purposes to make it more memorable, such as Viagra.
Generic names
Once the patent protection expires, other companies can produce their own version of the medicine. For example, ibuprofen is the generic name of a medicine that is commonly used to treat pain and inflammation. There are many branded versions of ibuprofen, such as Nurofen and Hedex. However, it is also sold under the generic name ‘ibuprofen’ but made by different manufacturers, such as Boots or Tesco.
Generic medicines are usually cheaper because there are fewer research and development costs, but they contain the same active ingredient as the branded products.
Generic medicines go through the same detailed safety and quality requirements as the original branded product.
Prescribing generic medicines
Prescribers (people who prescribe medicines, such as GPs) are encouraged to prescribe medicines by their generic name. This is because generic medicines are as effective as the branded versions, but can cost up to 80% less. This frees up NHS resources to pay for other treatments. It also gives the pharmacist the widest choice of products to dispense. This is important, particularly if there is a shortage of a particular product.
Generic prescribing is becoming particularly common for statins. This is because generic versions of some of these medicines are now available much more cheaply than their branded equivalent. For example, in October 2010, generic simvastatin (20mg) cost £1.12 for a pack of 28, compared with approximately £30 for a pack of 28 of the branded version.
Generic medicines with different activity
In rare cases, it is important for a patient to stay on the branded medicine that was previously prescribed for them, rather than changing to a generic medicine. In such cases, the branded medicine is the most suitable product.
Some examples of when you should keep taking your brand of prescribed medicine include:
- epilepsy medicines – these should be treated with care because different versions may have slight differences in the way they are absorbed, which can cause big differences in their effect; for example, prescribers may decide that the branded version of lamotrigine (Lamictal) is more suitable than the generic version
- modified-release preparations of medicines – such as modified release versions of theophylline, nifedipine, diltiazem and verapamil; a branded version may sometimes be a better option than the generic equivalent as they can be absorbed differently
- ciclosporin – a medicine that suppresses the immune system (the body’s natural defence system); different branded versions may cause different levels of ciclosporin in your blood
- mesalazine, which used to treat ulcerative colitis (a long-term condition that affects the colon); the way that mesalazine is absorbed varies between different brands
- lithium – this treats a number of mental health conditions; different brands vary widely in terms of how much of the medicine is absorbed and becomes active
- beclometasone dipropionate CFC-free inhalers to treat asthma – there are two inhalers that contain the same active substance (beclometasone dipropionate), but one is much stronger
- any product where the generic name could cause confusion, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and insulins (used to treat diabetes)
