Notable companies
The most notable companies in this group are ZOETIS (NYSE:ZTS), Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (NYSE:TEVA), Elanco Animal Health (NYSE:ELAN), Bausch Health Companies (NYSE:BHC), BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:BCRX), Avadel Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:AVDL), Tilray Brands (NASDAQ:TLRY), Aurora Cannabis (NASDAQ:ACB), Canopy Growth Corp (NASDAQ:CGC), Journey Medical Corp (NASDAQ:DERM).
Industry description
A generic drug contains the same chemical substance as a drug that was originally protected by patents. Generic drugs are generally sold at cheaper price points, compared to name-brand pharmaceuticals, after patents for the more expensive drugs lapse. The generic drug industry has created a major market, thanks to the lower pricing. According to the Center for Justice and Democracy at New York Law School, 80 percent of all drugs prescribed are generic, and generic drugs are chosen 94 percent of the time when they are available. But their manufacturers must be able to prove to the FDA that they can be effective substitutes for the original drugs. Some of the major generic drug makers include Zoetis, Inc., Allergan plc and Mylan N.V.