drugs
Bioequivalence and Interchangeability of Generic Drugs
Bioequivalence
Manufacturers must conduct studies to determine whether their version is bioequivalent to the original drug—that is, that the generic version releases its active ingredient (the drug) into the bloodstream at virtually the same speed and in virtually the same amounts as the original drug. Because the active ingredient in the generic drug has already been shown in testing of the brand-name drug to be safe and effective, bioequivalence studies only have to show that the generic version produces virtually the same levels of drug in the blood over time and thus require only a relatively small number (24 to 36) of healthy volunteers. Although people generally think of oral dosage forms, such as tablets, capsules, and liquids, when they think about generic prescription drugs, generic versions of other drug dosage forms, such as injections, patches, inhalers, and others, must also meet a bioequivalence standard. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets bioequivalence standards for different drug dosage forms. The manufacturer of the brand-name drug also must prove bioequivalence before a new form of an approved drug can be sold. New forms include new dosage forms or strengths of an existing brand-name drug product and any other modified form that is developed, as well as new generic drugs. Sometimes the form that was originally tested is modified for commercial reasons. For example, tablets may need to be made sturdier, flavoring or coloring may be added or changed, or inactive ingredients may be changed to increase consumer acceptance. 