Generic medicines

Most of the medicines Teva makes are what’s called a ‘generic’. It might be the first time you’ve come across a generic Teva medicine - keep reading to discover how generic medicines play an important role in saving the NHS billions of pounds a year. 01

Medicines will often have more than one name: a generic name (the active or key ingredient of the medicine), and a brand name (the trade name the manufacturer gives to the medicine).

It's a little bit like buying the brand name can of Heinz baked beans, or the supermarket's own brand, cheaper, version of baked beans - both cans contain baked beans as the main ingredient.

Generic medicines are typically sold at a substantially lower price compared to their branded medicine counterparts, as the development process is generally less costly. Generic medicines cost, on average, 80–85% less than brand-name medicines. 02

As the world's leading provider of generic medicines, Teva understands the importance of making safe, quality medications accessible and affordable. We believe that every one of us should have access to quality medicine that helps manage disease, fights infection, or simply improves overall health.

In addition, many prescription medicines made by other companies include active pharmaceutical ingredients produced by Teva.

Generic medicines bring significant savings to the NHS medicines bill 01

This frees up valuable NHS resources to be directed to where patients need it most.

By dispensing generic medicines, it allows more patients to be treated with the same medicine for the same cost; it means that with those savings the budget can be used to pay for innovative products and services that help patients; and the NHS can use the savings else where, such as supporting other essential services, or employing more doctors and nurses.

Without generics, the NHS medicines bill would be more than twice its current level 04

You might be surprised to learn that more than two-thirds of the medicines dispensed by the NHS are generics, yet they cost less than one third of the NHS medicines bill.01 

Teva’s generic products support healthcare systems all around the world

At a global level, Teva has one of the broadest medicines pipelines and widest portfolios in the industry which brings considerable benefits to us in the UK; it puts us in a strong position to bring generic versions of branded medicines to market on the first day of patent protection ending, at a competitive price.

Our global footprint is critical to ensuring that our patients have access to our medicines. Teva has the largest supply chain of any pharmaceutical company and our network of 37,000 employees and 53 global manufacturing sites work around the clock to make sure our medicines reach patients in over 60 countries across six continents. 

We are committed to creating quality, affordable medicines for more people in more places around the world.

Our scientists are currently developing over 800 generic medicines 05 that aim to increase access to treatments that can improve patients’ health and save healthcare providers billions.