Generic Azithromycin Approved
On November 14, three drug companies received approval to manufacture generic azithromycin (Zithromax) in the US. Azithromycin is one of the most widely-used antibiotics and is a staple in the treatment and prevention of certain opportunistic infections associated with HIV. The new generic should be available in pharmacies very soon and will help patients save on their total prescription costs. Patients currently taking Zithromax should ask their pharmacists about the availability of the new generic next time they order the prescription. Most states have laws in place that prohibit pharmacies from returning medication to stock once it has left the control of the pharmacy; therefore, patients should ask about the new generic up front to avoid missing out on the cost savings.
Generic drugs do not have to be tested clinically because the active ingredients have already been shown to be both safe and efficacious. However, manufacturers must show that their product results in approximately the same absorption as the brand-name product and that they are manufactured under good conditions. Because the generic manufacturers did not spend resources on developing the drug, did not have to conduct major clinical trials, do not have to market the drugs heavily, and must compete with multiple other generic manufacturers, the cost of generic drugs to the consumer is far reduced, without reducing quality.
-rxdoc
Generic drugs do not have to be tested clinically because the active ingredients have already been shown to be both safe and efficacious. However, manufacturers must show that their product results in approximately the same absorption as the brand-name product and that they are manufactured under good conditions. Because the generic manufacturers did not spend resources on developing the drug, did not have to conduct major clinical trials, do not have to market the drugs heavily, and must compete with multiple other generic manufacturers, the cost of generic drugs to the consumer is far reduced, without reducing quality.
-rxdoc