A number of articles have recently appeared in the popular press purporting to demonstrate the bioequivalence of generic and non-generic drugs. However, while criticism of generics is often based on the claimed lack of bioequivalence or that patients are confused by changes in drug names, these are not the critical issues. The high costs of the approval process, the reduced length of the patent period and the greater ease with which generics can enter the market has often made it more profitable to just copy somebody else’s innovations than to be innovative oneself. Since the producers of generic products do not have to recover the same costs borne by the originators of the drugs they may often be in a position to undercut their price (often considerably). This may seem like a good deal to consumers but it also lowers (also considerably) the incentives to develop new drugs. Those who engage in studies extolling the virtues of generics are often simply engaging in the popular pastime of bashing big business – at everybody else’s ultimate expense. If we want cheaper drug prices we need to streamline the approval process for new drugs, limit lawsuit abuse and allow more drugs to be sold over the counter.
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