A brand name drug is a medication sold under the trademark name given by the pharmaceutical company that originally developed it, as opposed to a generic version. For example, Advil is a brand name for the generic drug ibuprofen. Brand name drugs are typically more expensive because companies price them to recover research and development costs during the patent protection period. Once patents expire, other manufacturers can produce generic versions at lower prices. In Canada, provincial drug benefit programs often require or encourage use of generics when available to control costs, though some patients or doctors prefer specific brands.