difference between a patented drug like lipitor and then that patent runs out and then you go to genric? dr. fugh-berman: by the drug comes on the market there are usually seven or 10 years of patent life left. but there are many techniques for extending patent life in some ways of doing that are for example putting out delayed release preparations. a company might do an immediate release and then they do a controlled release and then an extended release. that is a way of extending patent life. sometimes companies will rename drugs and get a new indication for them, sometimes one that they invented. for example prozac was a blockbuster drug and made a lot of money for the company. brian: eli lilly? dr. fugh-berman: eli lilly. so before the patent were off the company created a condition w -- wore off the company created a condition and released a drug called service on -- serafim which is prozac. it was indicated for premenstrual disorder and what that meant was even when there was a generic available for prozac there was not a generic available for it even though it is the same drug. i