Non-exclusives, "standard" or "catalogue products" constitute the second most important outlet for fine chemicals after custom manufacturing. API-for-Generics are the most important sub-category. Because of patent expiries, over 60 of the top 200 drugs alone, representing aggregated sales of over $150 billion, have fallen into the public domain within the past decade. This, along with government-backed incentives, are causing global sales of generics to rapidly increase.
Asian companies currently dominate the API-for-Generics business. They have multiple advantages of their low cost basis, their large home markets, and significant previous manufacturing experience compared to western manufacturers in producing for their domestic and other non-regulated markets.