Generikk

Generikk is a term used in several languages, notably Norwegian, to denote generic products or concepts. In pharmacology, generikk refers to a generic medicine—a drug that contains the same active ingredient, dosage form, strength, route of administration, safety, efficacy, and quality as a branded product, but marketed under a non-brand name after the original patent or exclusivity period expires. Generics are typically offered at lower prices and are widely available to improve access to treatment.

The word is derived from the Latin root gener- meaning “of a kind” and is combined with linguistic patterns used in some languages to form abstract or collective nouns. In English-speaking contexts, the related term is usually “generic,” while “generikk” appears in several Scandinavian languages as the noun for generic products or concepts. In technology and software, some languages use a closely related concept—and sometimes the same term—to describe generics, referring to parametric types or components that work with various data types without being tied to a specific one.

Markets and regulation play a key role in generikk within medicine. Generic medicines must demonstrate pharmaceutical equivalence and, in many jurisdictions, bioequivalence to the reference product. Approval paths, substitution rules, and pricing policies vary by country, influencing competition, intervention by health systems, and patient access. The broader use of the term can also extend to non-pharmaceutical contexts where a generic form or template is used rather than a branded or specialized version.