| The rising cost of medicines has led many people | | | | Bioequivalence is a comparison of two or more |
| to patronize cheap non-branded substitutes of the | | | | products with respect to their bioavailability – |
| branded medicines they’re using. Because | | | | the amount of the drug in the bloodstream and |
| they’re sold at “bargain” prices, | | | | how long it takes to get there. When a generic |
| non-branded or multi-source drugs appear to be | | | | drug is certified as bioequivalent to a brand name |
| the ideal alternative to the pricey branded | | | | drug, it means that its active ingredient works in |
| medicines doctors often prescribe. | | | | the same way and in the same amount of time |
| But experts warn that not all generic substitutes | | | | as the innovator drug. |
| match their branded counterparts in terms of | | | | To determine its bioequivalence, a non-branded |
| safety and efficacy. Associating price with quality | | | | drug is tested for its bioavailability or the rate and |
| is not always a good idea, especially in the case of | | | | extent of the drug that reaches the general |
| non-branded drugs. This is because non-branded | | | | circulation from an administered dosage form. |
| drugs may not be bioequivalent to the branded | | | | Ideally, non-branded drugs should be bioequivalent |
| drugs they’re copying. | | | | and therapeutically equivalent to the branded |
| “A building engineer once came to my clinic | | | | products before they can be substituted for the |
| and started arguing with my fellows about | | | | latter. |
| bioequivalence because he said generic drugs are | | | | In a market riddled with fake or substandard |
| the same as branded drugs. I told him ‘If you | | | | drugs, however, that may be a problem. The |
| make a plan for a building with a measurement of | | | | issue of bioequivalence becomes even more |
| 2.5 millimeters (mm) and somebody changed that | | | | important for the patient whose very life depends |
| to 2.0 mm, what would happen?’ He laughed | | | | on the drug he or she is taking. If the |
| and said ‘That building would collapse!’ | | | | non-branded drug a person uses doesn’t |
| That means a teeny-weeny difference could | | | | match the branded product, his or her condition |
| mean disaster,” according to Dr. Ricardo | | | | won’t improve. Worse, that individual may |
| Fernando, a diabetologist and president of the | | | | suffer from serious side effects. |
| Institute for Studies in Diabetes Foundation. | | | | |