What are multi-source drugs?

[Guest guest]

I had a private email from a member of this site who asked me:

What is a multi-source drug?

Here is a quick response found at:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_multi-source_drugs

" Drugs are classified as single or multi source. This refers to the number of

manufacturers of the drug. Single source drugs become multi source when new drug

patent expires.

For example, a new drug released to marketplace is considered single source for

the length of the patent. Only one maufacturer can produce it, so there is a

" single source " . The day the patent expires and multiple manufacterers are

allowed to produce therapuetical equiviquent, drug becomes multi source as it is

produced by more than one source.

This applies to both brand and generic drugs. When generics are released to

marketplace, the first generic is considered to " hold original patent " and

therefore is allowed to price as a brand. All other generics thereafter for that

drug are called " non-innovators " and price as true generics. "

Moreover you may wish to read some background:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3374/is_6_30/ai_n26674370/

http://www.fmi.org/newsletters/uploads/CommentsFiled/Multiple_Source_Drug_Defini\

tion_4-08.pdf

Respectfully,

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS

Founder/Owner