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Here’s a breakdown of the key information from the provided text, focusing on the trends and data related to generic drugs in Brazil:
Key Takeaways:
Generic Drug Market Growth: The generic drug market in Brazil is growing, earning R$20.4 billion in the last year – a 13.5% increase from 2023.
Generics Prevalence: 85% of the items offered through the “Popular Pharmacy” program are generic drugs. 15 out of the 20 most prescribed drugs in Brazil are generic. Price Advantage: Generics are legally required to be at least 35% cheaper than their brand-name (reference) counterparts.
Government Savings Potential: The government anticipates significant savings as patents on certain drugs expire.Specifically, they mention ecilizumab (used for a rare blood disease) which currently costs SUS (the Brazilian public health system) R$1 billion annually. They expect savings of 30-40% through partnerships like the one between Bahiafarma and Bionvision.
USP Professor’s Perspective: Fernando Aith (USP Public Health Faculty) highlights Brazil’s unique position of providing both healthcare and medication, giving the government strong purchasing power to negotiate lower prices.
Patent Expiration: The expectation is that around 1000 drug patents will expire, leading pharmaceutical companies to invest in production.
In essence, the article discusses the increasing importance of generic drugs in Brazil, driven by cost savings for both consumers and the public health system, and facilitated by expiring patents.
