Definition

An equivalent medicine is a medicine that contains the same quantity of active ingredient and has the same bioavailability as a branded medicine with an expired patent. The protection offered by a patent allows a company, which has carried the costs of research, development and launch of a new product, to maintain its monopoly in the sale of this product for several years. At the end of this period of protection provided by the patent, a medicine may then be produced by other pharmaceutical companies and offered on the market at a lower price.