A drug is considered generic if it is manufactured and sold without patent protection, and pharmaceutical companies that specialize in these medications are known as generic drug companies. These companies can range from seedy as well as unsafe to extremely professional. As of 2010, some generic pharmaceutical manufacturers are considered to be the best independent generic drug companies in the world.
Aptopex
Aptopex, which was founded in 1974, is the largest Canadian-owned drug company and is listed as one of the top 10 generic companies in 2010 on FiercePharma.com. The company's global head office is in Toronto, Ontario. Aptopex has more than 260 generic drugs in production at more than 4,000 dosages, which means the amount of active ingredient in the drug. According to FiercePharma.com, based on sales from January through December 2009, this company's sales are approximately $1 billion a year. Aptopex is also planning to invest $2 billion in research and development over the next decade.
Dr. Reddy's
Dr. Reddy's is a drug manufacturer in Hyderabad, India, that was founded in 1984. Dr.Reddy's has offices worldwide, with branches in Brazil, China, Russia and the United States. The company has grown considerably since it went public in 1986. It has the only generic version of darbepoetin alfa---an anemia treatment drug---in India and the only generic version in the world. Dr. Reddy's also produces the only generic version of the migraine drug Imitrex for the United States. Based on sales from January through December 2009, Dr. Reddy's has annual sales of more than $800 million and is one of the top 10 generic drug companies named by FiercePharma.com in 2010.
Watson Pharmaceuticals
Watson Pharmaceuticals is a generic drug manufacturer with headquarters in Morristown, New Jersey, and Corona, California. It is considered by both "Forbes" magazine and FiercePharma.com to be one of the best generic drug companies in the world, listed as No. 4 on Fierce Pharma's top 10 list of best generic companies of 2010. According to FiercePharma.com, Watson Pharmaceuticals has annual sales of at least $2 billion. The company has been expanding steadily since its founding in 1984 and is presently increasing its presence in Finland, Poland and Turkey.
References
- Fierce Pharma: Top 10 Generic Drug Companies
- "Forbes" Magazine: Super Generic Drug Companies
- "Principles of Pharmacology;" David Golan and Armen Tashjian; 2005
- OnlineDrugTest: List of Generic Drug Companies
