Geneerinen

Geneerinen is a Finnish term meaning generic. In pharmacology, a geneerinen lääke refers to a medication whose active ingredient is the same as that of a reference (brand-name) product and that is placed on the market after the original product’s patent or exclusivity period has expired. A geneerinen medicine must be shown to be bioequivalent to the reference product, meaning it delivers the same amount of active substance into the bloodstream over the same time course. It may differ in inactive ingredients, excipients, and appearance, but not in the safety, quality, or efficacy of the active ingredient.

Regulatory practice typically requires evidence of bioequivalence rather than new clinical trials. In the European Union, generic medicines are approved on the basis of comparability to a licensed reference medicine and must meet the same standards for quality, efficacy, and safety. The process is coordinated with EU-wide guidelines and national authorities. In Finland, as in other EU countries, regulation follows EU rules and is administered in line with the European Medicines Agency and national authorities such as the Finnish Medicines Agency (Fimea).

Economic and social impacts of geneerinen medicines are substantial. They generally offer lower prices than branded products, fostering competition, expanding patient access, and helping contain healthcare costs. Differences in packaging or inactive ingredients are usually minor to patients, and in many health systems pharmacists may substitute a generic for a brand-name product when allowed by law and policy.

The term geneerinen can also be used more broadly to describe non-brand-specific or generic approaches beyond medicine. Etymologically, it is borrowed from the English generic, which derives from Latin genus (kind, type).