What distinguishes a generic drug from a brand drug?

A generic drug is distinguished from a brand drug primarily because it is a chemical duplicate of the brand-name drug. This means that generic drugs contain the same active ingredients, are intended to be therapeutically equivalent, and are used to treat the same medical conditions. They are manufactured to meet the same quality standards and regulations as brand-name drugs, ensuring that patients receive the same benefits in terms of efficacy and safety.

Additionally, generic drugs are typically marketed after the patent on the brand-name drug expires, allowing multiple manufacturers to produce the same medication, which often leads to lower prices. This competitive market dynamic benefits consumers by making medications more accessible.

In contrast, the dosage forms can sometimes differ between generic and brand-name drugs, but this is not a definitive criterion for distinguishing them. Furthermore, generic drugs are not more expensive; they are usually less expensive than their brand-name counterparts. Lastly, contrary to the notion that generic drugs may not be clinically effective, generic drugs are required to demonstrate bioequivalence—their therapeutic effects are effectively the same as those of the brand-name drugs. Thus, the essence of generics lies in their identity as chemical duplicates of their brand-name counterparts.