Eli5: what is the difference between a generic drug to the original drug, and why do some doctors will swear by the original drug?
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So I’ve worked for a company that makes the name brand and multiple generics. The biggest difference was often the supply chain of the non active ingredients. In this drugs case everyone uses the same active ingredient and supplier.
This is actually a bit more difficult now with the rise of biologic drugs. Since the synthesis of the “active ingredient” is so much more complicated the generics are now just identified as bio similar as the end result has been studied to give the same effect. Either way the process to make a name brand and bio similar drug are often very different unlike a traditional chemical drug where the process is generally the same (chemistry is better understood) The first bio similar products are just now entering the market as patent protection is ending for the first wave of biological drugs. So it’ll be interesting to see the public reaction.
Fun fact in biologic drugs the chemical that cures you is no longer called “active ingredient”
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