NTA Level 4 • Semester 1 • PST04101

Generic and Brand Names of Medicines

Dispensing • Source Session/Topic 11

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Session 11: Generic and Brand Names of Medicines

Total Session Time: 120 minutes

Prerequisites

• None

Learning Tasks

By the end of this session students are expected to be able to:

• Define Generic (non-proprietary) and Brand (proprietary) Medicines

• Explain Global and National Initiatives on Generic and Brand Medicines

• Distinguish between Generic and Brand Medicines

• List Advantages and Disadvantages of Generic and Brand Medicines

Resources Needed:

• Flip charts, marker pens, and masking tape

• Black/white board, chalk and whiteboard markers

SESSION OVERVIEW

SESSION CONTENTS

STEP 1: Presentation of Session Title and Learning Tasks (5 minutes)

READ or ASK students to read the learning tasks and clarify

ASK students if they have any questions before continuing.

STEP 2: Definition of Generic (Non-Proprietary) and Brand (Proprietary)

Medicines (10 minutes)

Generic medicine

• The generic or scientific or non proprietary name is the term given to

the active ingredient in the medicine that is decided by an expert

committee and is understood and used internationally

o Thus, paracetamol/acetaminophen is the non-proprietary name

(generic name) while Crocin/Metacin/Meftal/Tylenol etc are brand

names

Brand medicine

• A brand name drug is a medicine that’s discovered, developed and marketed

by a pharmaceutical company

o This name is given to a medicine by the pharmaceutical company that

makes it

o This is also called the "proprietary name"

• A generic drug is a chemically equivalent, lower-cost version of a brand-

name drug, costing 30-80% less!

• A brand-name drug and its generic version must have the same active

ingredient, dosage, safety, strength, usage directions, quality,

performance and intended use

STEP 3: Explain Global and National Initiatives on Generic and Brand

Medicines (25 minutes)

• Once a new drug is discovered, the company files for a patent to protect

against other companies making copies and selling the drug

• At this point the drug has two names: a generic name that’s the drug’s

common scientific name and a brand name to make it stand out in the

marketplace

o This is true of prescription drugs as well as over-the-counter

drugs

• An example is the pain reliever Tylenol®. The brand name is Tylenol® and

the generic name is acetaminophen

o Generic drugs have the same active ingredients as brand name drugs

already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

o Generics only become available after the patent expires on a brand

name drug

o Patent periods may last up to 20 years on some drugs

• The same company that makes the brand name drug may also produce the

generic version or a different company might produce it

• It is a well-known fact that generic drugs are “drugs that are usually

intended to be interchangeable with an innovator product that is

manufactured without a license from the innovator company and marketed

after the expiry date of the patent or other exclusive rights”

• When it is said that doctors should prescribe generic drugs, it means

that they should prescribe drugs manufactured by other companies after

expiry of patent of parent drug of the innovator company

• The patent for paracetamol expired in 2007 after which numerous generic

versions have been developed and sold under various “brand names.”

o If one were to prescribe it only by the name “paracetamol” (generic

name), it is up to the pharmacist to select and dispense a

particular brand.

▪ A simpler and better alternative for cost reduction would

be to prescribe the cheapest “brand” of paracetamol.

• Thus, a better way to prescribe would be to prescribe the cheapest brand

of the drug and include the generic name of the drug in parenthesis, in

case that particular brand is not available.

STEP 4: Distinguish Between Generic and Brand Medicines (30 minutes)

|Activity: Buzzing (5 minutes) |

| |

|ASK students to pair up and buzz on the following question for 2 |

|minutes |

| |

|What are the differences between Generic name (Non-proprietary name) |

|and Brand name (Proprietary name) of medicine? |

| |

|ALLOW few pairs to respond and let other pairs to add on points not |

|mentioned |

| |

|WRITE their response on the flip chart/board |

| |

|CLARIFY and SUMMARIZE by using the content below |

• Although the active ingredients are the same, the excipients (inactive

ingredients) may differ

o This is only important in rare cases when a patient has an allergy

or sensitivity to one of the excipients

• The product may also be slightly different in:

o Colour

o Shape or markings

o Taste

o Preservatives

o Packaging

• The biggest difference is cost; generic drugs are generally less

expensive than brand name comparators

STEP 5: Advantages and Disadvantages of Generic and Brand Medicines (30

minutes)

|Activity: Brainstorming (5 minutes) |

| |

|Ask students to brainstorm on the following question: |

| |

|What are the advantages and disadvantages of generic names |

|(Non-proprietary names) and Brand names (Proprietary names)? |

| |

|ALLOW few students to respond |

| |

|WRITE their responses on the flip chart/ board |

| |

|CLARIFY and SUMMARISE by using the content below |

• Generic drugs cost less than Branded drugs

o The generic drug manufacturer does not have the incurred costs of

discovery, research and development, preclinical and clinical tests

as well as advertising/marketing and promotion

o Therefore it can offer the generic drug at a much lower cost to

you/patient

• Generic drugs are more available than Branded drugs

• Generic drugs can be manufactured locally while Branded drugs cannot be

manufactured locally

STEP 6: Key Points (10 minutes)

• A generic drug is identical or bioequivalent to a brand name drug in

dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality,

performance characteristics and intended use.

• Although generic drugs are chemically identical to their branded

counterparts, they are typically sold at substantial discounts from the

branded price

• Generic drugs are essentially the same as brand name drugs since the

differences are on other ingredients other than active ingredient which

are binders, coloring agents, and flavorings but is same in the

therapeutic and medicinal portion as well as dose, strength, route of

administration, safety, efficacy and intended use.

STEP 7: Evaluation (10 minutes)

• What are the generic names (Non-proprietary name) and brand names

(Proprietary names)?

• What are the differences between generic names and brand names?

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of generic names and brand

name?

References

Cameron A., Mantel-Teeuwisse A., Leufkens H., Laing R. (2012). Value

Health: Switching from originator brand medicines to generic

equivalents in selected developing countries: how much could be

saved? 15, 664–673 PubMed

Davit et al. (2009). Ann Pharmacother:Comparing generic and innovator

drugs: a review of 12 years of bioequivalence data from the United

States Food and Drug Administration. 2009;43(10):1583-97

Kesselheim et al. (2008). JAMA: Clinical equivalence of generic and brand

name drugs used in cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and

meta-analysis. 300(21)2514-2526

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