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Article: Generic vs. Brand Name Drugs: 'More Expensive' Doesn't Mean 'Better'.
- Article from:
- Los Angeles Business Journal
- Article date:
- August 14, 2000
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 CBJ, L.P. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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One of the most common misperceptions in healthcare is the widespread belief that generic drugs are somehow inferior in quality to recognizable brand name pharmaceuticals. In fact, nothing could be farther from the truth. Every drug sold in the U.S. has a generic name and every drug with the same genetic name has an identical chemical structure. A "brand" label is nothing more than the unique product name given to a specific generic drug by its manufacturer.
For example, acetaminophen is the generic name for the drug commonly known as Tylenol. Many manufacturers may make acetaminophen, but there is only one product named Tylenol. This is because each medication, ...