The pharmacoeconomic impact of generics: an evolutionary tale

The very word generics stiffens sinews and tightens lips in the pharma industry. It has been proposed that large profits and much pride are now being lost through the creeping forces of intellectual piracy and generic plagiarism [1-3]. In this article, I will argue against this position. Using models from evolution and modern day complexity theory I will attempt to address some of the fears that surround generic pharmaceutical enterprise and to express my own concerns about some of the overly optimistic thinking that occurs with respect to developing world systems and the HIV virus.