An innovative drug is a new drug that the Originator Company creates after research and development Phases and operations, and reserves exclusive rights to market it for a certain period of time “the period of legal protection under the systems of intellectual property rights protection guaranteed by the system.”
After this period, companies are allowed to manufacture the innovative drug under different brand names, which is called a “generic drug“ and is the equivalent drug: (a drug equivalent to a drug product of a registered and legally protected trademark, similar in terms of drug formula, quality, performance characteristics, and use).
The importance of the generic drug is highlighted as it is a medicine similar to the innovative medicine and is available at a lower price. when an innovative medicine known for its treatment of a disease is interrupted, it can be approved to put a “similar” generic medicine for sale in the market to preserve the health of patients. All generic medicines are subject to an examination process. It is strict and consists of several steps that include reviewing the scientific data related to its components and its bio-equivalence to ensure its safety and effectiveness before approving and registration with health authorities and launched it on the market.
