Generics offer alternatives, but at what price?

Why should you pay more for name brands when there are cheaper generic versions? Most of us know about generic medicines. Some medical insurance providers even require doctors to prescribe generics when available.

Generics are non-branded versions of the same drugs that are no longer protected by patent. For lucrative products, competition can be fierce. Sometimes in less regulated environments or where the patent has no legal backing, manufacturers may start producing generics before the patent expires.

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Comparing generics to name brands

Generics are not just found in the pharmacy. Generic foods and agriculture materials have been around for some time. The recent buzz is over new generic insecticides and miticides.

As with drugs, generic pesticides are (usually) off-patent and less expensive when compared with the name brands. However, at least in some comparisons I have made, the prices of name-brand products have dropped to where differences are minimal.

What about differences in quality, plant safety or performance? I haven’t run any trials comparing standard and generic pesticides, but one major manufacturer has not found any differences between its product and the competition. I know of one case where the formulation is not the same (a generic emulsifiable concentrate versus a name-brand microencapsulated liquid flowable), which could make a difference in terms of plant safety.

Don’t assume generic and name brand labels are identical. It is important to check the products for the specific desired uses. For example, one generic was recently sold for greenhouse use, but after careful reading it was clear the label only allowed for landscape use.

Maintaining market share

As active ingredients reach maturity, companies sometimes try to retain their market through advertising or other means, such as novel formulations or uses. You may see some new strategies in combination products (two or more active ingredients), formulations or supplemental labels that enhance interest in the original company’s material.

Companies also try to retain markets in other ways. Some pesticides might be considered “authorized generics,” which are licensed by the original patent holder to a new distributor. It is the same product but sold under one or more new brand names. You can sometimes tell authorized generics by U.S. EPA registration numbers that are similar to those on the original products (e.g., 100-896 for Avid vs. 100-896-72112 for Flora-Mek).

Multiple generics

So, what are some of the generics available?

Imidacloprid. Perhaps the most buzz-worthy insecticide to come off patent is imidacloprid, which is labeled under various brand names: Marathon (for greenhouses and nurseries), Merit (for landscapes), Admire (for vegetables and other uses) and Provado (for vegetables and grapes). Sales for the parent company, Bayer, were reported at 603 million euros (about $800 million) in 2004, an enticing target for competing manufacturers. There are now over 200 imidacloprid registrations in New York State including dozens of products to choose from for landscapes, and at least 10 specifically for greenhouse use under the brand names Marathon , Majesty, Areca, Mallet 2F Nursery and Greenhouse Insecticide, Benefit and Imida E-Pro. This is confusing enough, but unfortunately in some cases the same label names (Mallet, Imida E-Pro) are also used on products with landscape-only uses. Read the labels carefully to ensure that greenhouse use is specifically allowed. Like Marathon , some imidacloprid products also come in different formulations (granular, liquid, powder). Be sure the uses you want (spray versus drench) are on the label of the product you buy.

Avid. Avid insecticide/miticide controls spider, broad, cyclamen and rust mites and certain insects. Its active ingredient (abamectin) is now off-patent and there are dozens of products containing abamectin. At least five are labeled for greenhouse ornamentals: Avid, Ardent, Flora-Mek, Lucid Ornamental Miticide and Quali-Pro Abamectin. The formulations appear to be identical and the labels are similar. Flora-Mek and Ardent are authorized generics – they, like, Avid, are produced by Syngenta.

Orthene. Orthene Turf, Tree and Ornamental 75S has several generics, including Avatar and Acephate Pro 75.

Bifenthrin. Bifenthrin, the active ingredient in Talstar Flowable from FMC, is another off-patent material and is available in relatively new generics, including Menace GC 7.9 percent Flowable, Up-Star SC Lawn & Nursery Insecticide/Miticide and Wisdom Flowable. Talstar Nursery Flowable, also produced by FMC, is a non-generic version of the same formulation.

Talstar Flowable is strictly for indoor application and is not federally classed as restricted-use, while the others can also be used outdoors and are restricted, an important distinction for unlicensed private applicators. Check the labels carefully since there are similarly named products (Menace, Up-Star, Wisdom) that lack greenhouse uses.

Scimitar GC, a pyrethroid insecticide in the same class as bifenthrin, has a few generics with greenhouse-use labels including Lambda-Cy EC Insecticide. Scimitar is a “capsule suspension” formulation, but Lambda-Cy is an emulsifiable concentrate. The two products have slightly different concentrations of active ingredient. Scimitar labels do not require applicators to use protective eyewear, but Lambda-Cy labels do.

Permethrin. Permethrin, another pyrethroid insecticide, is familiar to greenhouse growers as Astro Insecticide. Perm-Up 3.2 EC, Tenkoz Permethrin 3.2EC, Permethrin Pro, Arctic 3.2 EC Insecticide and Waylay Permethrin are some generics for greenhouse use.

Considering generics

Before jumping ship to generics, consider all of the issues. Also keep in mind the advantages of working with local and regional suppliers and the products they offer. Help them stay in business to continue to serve industry needs.

I have noted the brief life of some generic labels that are already listed as “discontinued” in New York , meaning it won’t be legal to use the products. Technical representatives of some generics are scarce or nonexistent, which can be a problem when you need a quick response to issues related to registration, phytotoxicity, use or special labeling. Also, some companies that deal primarily in generics don’t do much investment in research and development.

Expect the situation regarding generics to get more confusing as other products come off-patent and the competition for your business steps up. Read labels and choose products thoughtfully with price as the last consideration.

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- Dan Gilrein