Posted by seldomseen on August 30, 2008, at 8:17:21
In reply to Generic when not generic available?, posted by Hygieia's Bowl on August 29, 2008, at 20:29:54
It could be a scam, but it most likely isn't. There are US patents and worldwide patents. They expire typically at different times.
Another thing to consider is that a company can patent the formulation of the drug - the way the active ingredient is actually compounded into a pill, capsule etc... Sometimes this patent is a process, sometimes it is the inactive ingredients that surround the active ingredient, sometimes it is a coating on the pill.
Some of these formulations are essential to the activity of the drug. So, while the active ingredient patent may expire, the company still holds the patent on how to formulate the drug.
You have to be very careful in situations like this because, yes, you are getting the drug, but you are not getting it in a fashion that is as therapeutic as the name brand.
Seldom
poster:seldomseen
thread:849108
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080822/msgs/849172.html