proprietary name

The trade name of a drug: the name assigned to it by the company who manufactures it. For example, Zantac is a proprietary name for ranitidine. When drugs are first introduced by a pharmaceutical company they are under patent and may only be dispensed or sold under the trade name. On expiry of the patent (usually after ten years) any other company may manufacture the drug, although they will still need a licence, granted by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, in order to sell the drug under its generic name. Most generic drugs are cheaper than the corresponding proprietary preparations. This is particularly apparent with over the counter medicines, such as aspirin and paracetamol.

Previous:	propranolol hydrochloride, propiverine hydrochloride, propantheline bromide
Next:	propylthiouracil, prostaglandins, protamine sulphate