A drug produced and distributed without patent protection is called a generic drug. generic prescriptions are exactly the same as their branded counterparts in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics and intended use. The big difference between the two is the price. HIV causes AIDS if proper medication can’t be given after the infection. Presently, AIDS is now the world’s leading cause of death infectious death among adult. In the early 1980s when the HIV/AIDS epidemic began, people with AIDS were not likely to live longer than a few years. With the development of safe and effective drugs, however, people infected with HIV now have longer and healthier lives.
HIV is one member of the group of viruses known as retroviruses. Retroviruses are unique in that they reproduce by transcribing themselves into DNA. Reverse transcriptase, an enzyme within a retrovi rus, makes it possible for Although highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been successful in containing plasma HIV RNA levels and providing significant clinical benefit in infected patients, it does not eradicate HIV infection. In addition, the monetary cost of HAART is deterrent for many individuals and countries. In terms of cost, 95% of the HIVpositive individuals in the world don’t have access to the therapy as a direct result of the cost of therapy. The prevalent endeavors by different cause oriented organizations, which also pave the way for the emergence of generic manufacturers and direct negotiations with pharmaceutical companies to make HIV medications affordable to everyone by lowering its prevailing price.
Antiretroviral treatment inarguably slows down the onset of AIDS. During the early years of the discovery of ARV the cost is too high that only available in rich and developed countries. However, antiretroviral treatments has been the tool in the dramatic decrease of deaths brought by HIV infections. Within four years a notable 84% of death rates caused by HIV/AIDS in developed countries had dropped..Notably, access to HIV treatment had increased significantly in the end of 2003. The emergence of HIV generic drugs have directly made a significant impact on the cost of the medication. The time it takes a generic drug to appear on the market varies. In the US, drug patents give twenty years of protection, but they are applied for before clinical trials begin, so the effective life of a drug patent tends to be between seven and twelve years. Fact is, generic drugs are cheaper because the manufacturers have not had the expenses of developing and marketing a new drug. When a company brings a new drug onto the market, the firm has already spent substantial money on research, development, marketing and promotion of the drug. HIV generic medicines is as effective as the brand-name drugs as the Food and Drugs Administration applies the same standard for all drug manufacturing facilities.
Generic antiretrovirals are now commonly used for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in the developing world. They have been included into a number oftreatment programmes including PEPFAR – the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. PEPFAR, the lone greatest supporter of treatment provision for AIDS in the developing world, began to distribute generic drugs through its programmes in 2004-5. In 2007, generics accounted for 57% of the $131 million PEPFAR spent on anti-AIDS drugs. Generic HIV medication has played a vital role in the distribution of HIV treatment in the developing world and in its prevention. Hence, generic drugs affordability and accessibility to the developing countries cannot be underestimated. Let me quote Stephen Lewis, former UN Special Envoy for HIV in Africa, said: ‘…we wouldn’t have this extraordinary run of treatment in Africa now if it weren’t for the generic drugs.’
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