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If a branded pharmaceutical makes two or more different products with the same active ingredient, why would it suggest on one that it is good for treating problems X, Y, and Z, while on the other, only X and Y?
because they can.
if an active ingredient has more than one potential outcome the brand can promote one or more outcomes aiming effectively the same product at differing markets. or two or more diffrently named products with the same ingredient at the same market and ask a premion for one over the other..
Marketing.
and frankly as pharmaceuticals go this is pretty small beer on the ethical scale.. ask about pricing and charging to the nhs.. ask about provision of proffesional services for nhs trusts..
So that you buy both products if you have both ailments.
Sorry, glupton. I think you have misunderstood my question.
In my OP, I have ailment Z. Brand A makes multiple products, all of which contain the same active ingredient. But on the product I want, the advertisement only claims to treat problems X and Y, saying NOTHING about problem Z, even though on all their other products with the same ingredients, they purport to treat Z as well.
Make sense?
It's often to do with product information leaflets needing to be disease specific. For instance, if product A can treat two diseases, but by virtue of one disease the risk profile is altered (think diminished metabolism, other co-related drug interactions) then you need a different PIL.
They also generally want to discourage you from self prescribing. So if you have pills left over and suddenly find you have a new disease that is mentioned on the PIL it really doesn't make sense for you to just take the drugs without an active consultation with a medic.
As an example, did you know the active ingredient in Vicks Synex (the big squeeze ones, not the little ones) is also the active ingredient in a lot of angina meds and haemorrhoid treatments? Having a blocked nose is one thing but its best not to encourage people to self treat angina (and active ingredient and active dose are two different things remember), nor should we be encouraging people to shove Vicks up their arse.
As for the profit / greed sentiments - anything over 5% profit would be seen as sector leading. There really is very little in pharma these days.
Interesting points all.
Most interesting for me was DrRS****'s point about there being little profit in Pharma.
It is very unusual not to jump on the profiteering big pharma / leeches on society band wagon.
Dr RSW I salute you!
Al.