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Article: Generic drugs: what you need to know.
- Article from:
- FDA Consumer
- Article date:
- September 1, 2002
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 U.S. Government Printing Office. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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When the pain reliever acetaminophen was developed in the 1950s, it was only available under its brand name, Tylenol. Today, acetaminophen can be found in many generic and store-brand versions. Similarly, many drug products, prescription and over-the-counter, have generic versions available. An estimated 44 percent of all prescriptions in the United States are filled with generic drugs.
New drugs are developed by innovator firms. Patents protect these companies' investments by giving them the sole right to sell the drug while the patents are in effect. When patents or other periods of exclusive marketing for brand-name drugs are near expiration, manufacturers can ...