A generic is a pharmaceutical product which has the same qualitative and quantitative composition in active substances and the same pharmaceutical form as the reference medicinal product, and whose bioequivalence with the reference medicinal product has been demonstrated by appropriate bioavailability studies. Generics can be classified in branded generics (generics with a specific trade name) and unbranded generics (which use the international non-proprietary name and the name of the company).
Data are reported for the Third-party-payer market (sub-market in which a third-party payer reimburses medicines); the Community pharmacy market (healthcare facility dispensing medicines, i.e. prescription-only medicines, i.e. POM, and OTC, reimbursable and non-reimbursable medicines, to out-patients); and the Hospital pharmaceutical market (see SHA definition for H.P.1.).
Data are collected as a share expressed in value and in volume. Values can for instance be the turnover of pharmaceutical companies, the amount paid for pharmaceuticals by third-party payers, or the amount paid by all payers (third-party and consumers). Market value are most often at ex-factory prices, while amounts paid by third-party payers (and consumers) are in general at retails prices. Volumes can be expressed in DDDs or as a number of packages/boxes or standard units.
Please refer to the
Sources and Methods for detailed country-specific information.