Why are generic medicines less expensive?
A. It takes many years and hundreds of millions of dollars to develop a new medicine, but it takes relatively little time and money to copy one. Makers of generic medicines do not have to invest the substantial resources necessary to develop a medicine from scratch, or generate revenue to support new research—so they can afford to charge much lower prices. You should be aware, however, that some pharmacies have steep mark-ups on generic medications, so it pays to shop around for the best price.
