[GailA]

But that is not how it works, it prevents a new generic from being brought to market. Works same with crap like the Mesh, or the Chromium Poisoning on a hip replacement, just coat it, say it’s fixed. Won’t pay for fixing hip to Ceramic or remove the mesh, that is killing the patient.

[Svartalfiar]

But that is not how it works, it prevents a new generic from being brought to market.

Huh? Not at all.. The company gets the new patent on the changed drug (chocolate instead of vanilla flavor). But the old formula is still on the original patent. So you'll have plenty of generic vanilla pills on the original time, but the company's new and improved chocolate pills get the new patent protection. So you just won;t have generic chocolate pills for a while. At which time the main manufacturer will put out the new improved strawberry flavor, while you have chocolate or vanilla generic options.