1. The scientific designation of a medication.2. A phrase used to describe the chemical composition of a medication, as opposed to the commercial brand it might be sold under.3. A phrase indicating any medication sold under its scientific designation without marketing. Medications sold without brand names are typically more affordable than their brand-name counterparts, despite being chemically identical and adhering to the same FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) standards for safety, purity, and efficacy. In the U.S., generic drugs can be produced legally if a patent has expired or if the medication was never patented. Once a patent expires, the patent holder's exclusive rights to license the drug's sales are eliminated.
