Long Read: The Rise of Generic Drugs in China

To ensure proper oversight of generic medications, it is essential to understand their differences with brand name drugs and the history of how they have been regulated

China’s generic drug market has undergone significant changes in the nine years since the launch of the generic drug consistency evaluation. Photo: AI generated

Recently, there has been a lot of discussion in China about the differences between imported brand-name medications and the generic drugs produced in the domestic market.

Generic drugs do not have a long history in China. To ensure proper oversight on generics, it is essential to have a better understanding of their differences with brand name drugs and how they have been regulated in China. In a nutshell, we need to ensure that the quality and efficacy of generic drugs are consistent with those of brand-name drugs.

Basic concepts

Pharmaceuticals come in two categories: brand-name drugs and generics. Brand-name drugs are original. Their creation requires scientists to screen thousands of compounds that then need to undergo rigorous clinical trials to verify their safety and efficacy.

【Subscribe now and save 40% !】