| The cost of prescription medicines used by millions of people every day is about to plummet, AP reports. |
據美聯社報道，數百萬人每日服用的處方藥價格有望大幅下降。 |
| In the next 14 months, generic versions of seven of the world's 20 best-selling drugs, including the top two: cholesterol fighter Lipitor and blood thinner Plavix, will hit the market. |
未來14個月中，全球最暢銷的20種藥品中，將有7種成為非專利藥品上市，其中包括用于降低膽固醇的藥品立普妥以及血液稀釋藥波利維。 |
| The magnitude of this wave of expiring drugs patents is unprecedented. Between now and 2016, blockbusters with about $255 billion in current global annual sales will go lose their patent, notes EvaluatePharma Ltd., a London research firm. |
這次專利到期涉及的藥品，數量空前。英國一家研究機構EvaluatePharma表示，從現在起到2016年，目前全球年度銷售額約2550億美元的熱銷藥品都將失去專利。 |
| Generic competition will decimate sales of the brand-name drugs and slash the cost to patients. |
非專利藥品還將對品牌藥品銷售市場造成重創，從而使消費者獲利。 |
| Patients, businesses and taxpayers who help pay for prescription drugs will save a fortune because generic drugs typically cost 20 percent to 80 percent less than the brand names. |
通常情況下，非專利藥比品牌藥便宜20%-80%，病人以及幫處方藥買單的企業和納稅人都將從中獲益。 |
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It is hoped that the lower prices will significantly reduce the number of people jeopardizing their health because they can't afford medicines.
(China.org.cn July 27, 2011) |
此次藥品降價，有望使付不起藥費的病人數量極大減少。 |
