It’s official: With only generic drugs available for virtually all diseases, the days of branded medicines are long gone. The last five years have seen a revolution in the world of generics with the likes of Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra all enjoying fantastic success. But just as the market share of branded pharmaceuticals declines, the share of generics increases as companies seek to cash in on the growing market. One company leading the way is Cipla, the Indian pharmaceutical company who this year saw their share price rise by 32% in just over a month, from April 20 to June 20.
The company began life back in 1899, when it was known as the Chemist & Druggist Company. Back then, its mission was to provide good quality pharmaceuticals at affordable prices. In 1982, the company changed its name to Cipla and began expanding into different markets. Three years later, the company launched its first generics line. Since then, it’s expanded its generics offering to more than 500 products, offering consumers a choice of well-known brands at affordable prices. So, is Cipla the next giant to rise in the world of generics? Let’s take a look.
Key Facts About Cipla
Cipla is an Indian drugmaker, with its headquarters located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The company trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CIP and had 2016 sales of USD 11.7 billion. In 2017, it was the 249th largest traded brand on the NYSE AMEX and the 23rd largest company on the Fortune 500. On April 20 this year, Cipla’s share price was at USD 16.85, an increase of 32.19% from the price it was trading at before the start of April.
On the subject of acquisitions, Cipla has bought a number of smaller drugmakers and launched its own range of generics as part of its plans to grow. In 2018, the company spent a total of USD 2.1 billion on acquisitions, with the largest acquisition being CVS’s Generics Group, which it bought for USD 12.9 billion in May 2018.
If you’re looking to spend money on a drug that you know will provide good value for your money, why not consider Cipla’s Generics? With competitive pricing and great value for money, it could be the perfect generic for you.
A Generic For Everything?
If you’re new to the world of generics, it can be quite the shock to see how many brands there are when you go to the pharmacy to pick up your prescription. Before heading out to buy any drug, you’ll see a list of all the medications available, including the ones that are generic and the ones that are not. It can be a little overwhelming.
Generics provide us with the fantastic opportunity to buy our meds from a range of manufacturers at a cheaper price, without the need to spend extra on brand names. So, while it’s great that more and more people are seeing the benefit of generics, it can also be a little overwhelming.
That’s why it’s important to do your research before buying a generic: Make sure that the medication you’re considering is exactly what the doctor ordered and that it will work alongside your other medications. If in doubt, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
A Key Differentiator Between Cipla’s Generics and Most Othr Generics
One of the things that set Cipla’s range of generics apart from most other brands is the fact that almost all of them are combination therapies, which use two or more active ingredients. This enables doctors to prescribe medication that is more effective at treating particular diseases and, in some instances, lessens the adverse effects of the drug.
For example, the drug Vioxx is a COX-2 inhibitor and it was, historically, one of the biggest sellers in the United States. It was first approved in 1999 and its patent expired in 2012. Since then, generic versions have flooded the market, making it one of the most popular biologics on the market. However, Vioxx is no ordinary drug: It’s also one of the most frequently reported drug side effects, due to its potent nature. It’s been reported that Vioxx can cause heart attacks and other serious adverse effects. It was also the subject of a major class-action lawsuit, which was ultimately settled out of court for an undisclosed sum. This is just one of the drugs that Cipla has identified as having this type of disadvantageous side effect profile and they’ve taken steps to avoid this by combining it with other medications.
For other drugs that Cipla has produced, there haven’t been any major safety concerns reported and these medications have been successfully used for many years. One example is Cialis, which is a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitor. PDE-5 inhibitors increase the level of cGMP in the body, which has a wide array of beneficial effects. The most commonly reported side effect from taking Cialis is usually benign (though sexual function must be discussed with the patient before taking the medication) and it’s been approved for use in almost all countries, including the United States and Canada. Another example is levitra, which is a nitric oxide (NO) donor and it works by expanding the blood vessels in the penis, resulting in increased blood flow and erection capability. Most side effects are mild to moderate, though, like with all medicines, it’s important to be aware of the warnings and precautions that come with it. However, most consumers have absolutely no problems with this medication and it’s been approved for use in more than 150 countries around the world. The other common generic combination therapies work in a similar way and, for the most part, have proven to be just as effective and safe.
Cipla’s Market Share and Growth Potential
In 2016, Cipla’s revenue was around USD 11.7 billion and it’s grown exponentially since then. The company is now looking toward the future with eyes firmly focused on emerging markets. It sees great potential in places like Brazil and India, where access to healthcare is limited. In particular, the company’s biggest market is China, where it has over 300 million customers and a market share of 17%. In some ways, Cipla is becoming a one-stop-shop for healthcare, providing customers with affordable medication.
In 2018 alone, the company’s sales were around USD 14.5 billion. The next big market for them is expected to be the U.S., where there’s a large population of aging adults and the demand for prescription medicine is high. However, as more and more people gain access to healthcare, the demand for generics will decline, as people will become aware of the benefits of living a healthier lifestyle.
How Do You Investigate A Generic?
Before buying a generic, it’s important to do your research. You must make sure that the medication you’re considering is the same as the one that the pharmacist writes down for you. Sometimes, manufacturers change the formula of the drug without telling the consumers. That’s why it’s important to compare specs, especially if you’re buying the medication online, as you won’t be able to verify the exact composition of the drug. In some instances, the active ingredients within a drug can destabilize if stored together, which would affect its potency. To avoid this, generics are generally stored in a refrigerator and they are given out as soon as possible, upon prescription.
One of the best ways to make sure that you’re getting what you paid for is to consult the pharmacists at your local pharmacy. They’ll be able to give you an idea of what’s in the drug and whether or not it’s worth the cost. If you’re not sure whether or not the drug is safe to take, it’s important to ask your doctor. Sometimes, patients suffering from diseases like diabetes or hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) need to be on medications that they’re not used to and this can cause them to have adverse reactions. In most cases, these medications are deemed safe, but it’s still good practice to ask your physician about possible interactions before taking them.
As more and more people are realizing the benefits of generic medication and as fewer and fewer drug companies are making branded medications, the days of branded medicines are numbered. However, as long as the healthcare landscape continues to evolve and new diseases emerge, the need for medication will never cease.
Hopefully, this article gave you a clear idea of what type of medication Cipla makes and why you might want to consider them. With great prices and amazing medication, it’s clear that Cipla is setting the standard for affordable but amazing healthcare.