Japan Generic Drug Market Surge due to Government Incentives

摘要

Unlike their counterparts in the US, Germany or Britain, people in japan seldom ask for the cheaper generic drugs in the pharmacy. However, due to the change in government financial incentives to ease its spiraling medical costs, the country's genericdrug market is expected to boom in the near future. New drugs, like other new products, are developed under patent protection such that the company will have the sole right to sell the drug while the patent is in effect When patents expire, other manufacturers can apply to sell generic versions. A generic drug is identical to its original prescription drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics and intended use. They are usually sold at lower prices than the branded ones.