| The cost of prescription medicines used by millions of people every day is about to plummet, AP reports. |
据美联社报道，数百万人每日服用的处方药价格有望大幅下降。 |
| 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. |
未来14个月中，全球最畅销的20种药品中，将有7种成为非专利药品上市，其中包括用于降低胆固醇的药品立普妥以及血液稀释药波利维。 |
| 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. |
这次专利到期涉及的药品，数量空前。英国一家研究机构EvaluatePharma表示，从现在起到2016年，目前全球年度销售额约2550亿美元的热销药品都将失去专利。 |
| Generic competition will decimate sales of the brand-name drugs and slash the cost to patients. |
非专利药品还将对品牌药品销售市场造成重创，从而使消费者获利。 |
| 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. |
通常情况下，非专利药比品牌药便宜20%-80%，病人以及帮处方药买单的企业和纳税人都将从中获益。 |
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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) |
此次药品降价，有望使付不起药费的病人数量极大减少。 |
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