US Medical Term · medicines
Brand-Name Drug
Medicamento de Marca
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Brand-Name Drug |
| Spanish (Español) | Medicamento de Marca |
| Chinese (中文) | 品牌药 |
| Korean (한국어) | 브랜드 의약품 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Thuốc thương hiệu |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Brand-Name na Gamot |
| Portuguese (Português) | Medicamento de Marca |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ยาตราสินค้า |
| Japanese (日本語) | 先発医薬品（先発品） |
What it means
A brand-name drug is a medication sold under a proprietary trade name by the pharmaceutical company that developed it and holds the patent. Brand-name drugs are typically placed in higher formulary tiers with higher cost-sharing. Once the patent expires, other manufacturers can produce FDA-approved generic versions. Some conditions may require brand-name drugs when generics are not therapeutically interchangeable; insurers may require prior authorization or step therapy before covering brand-name options.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
Is there a generic version of this brand-name drug that my insurance covers?
¿Hay una versión genérica de este medicamento de marca que cubra mi seguro?
My prescription is for a brand-name drug, but I want to compare it to a cheaper alternative.
Mi receta es para un medicamento de marca, pero quiero compararlo con una alternativa más económica.
The pharmacist told me the brand-name drug costs three times more than the generic.
El farmacéutico me dijo que el medicamento de marca cuesta tres veces más que el genérico.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Related guide
→ US Guide: prescriptions generics and discount programsSources
Last reviewed: September 2026