Biopharm,
I don't think anyone here is questioning the utility of the savings generated by generic substitution. (In fact, I'd like to see much more funding for the generics division of the FDA, based on what I read in the article posted by jbog.) But the question that I think North is raising is about the quality of the generics.
As patients, we should all be concerned about the safety, efficacy and tolerability of the drugs being prescribed for us. Without this board, I would never have been aware of the significant differences between a standard generic--as opposed to an authorized or branded generic or even as opposed to the branded original. (My physicians don't tell me this and neither do my pharmacists. There seems to be a conspiracy of silence around the issue. MEDCO is my union's healthcare plan pharmacy provider and they have been pushing VERY hard for the physicians to write prescriptions for the generics. They have been pushing hard on the patients as well, especially in regards to the use of statins. But, I notice that MEDCO NEVER tells the patients that the generics are not exactly the same as the branded drug. I think there ought to be more transparency here. And, as I mentioned earlier, this became a serious issue with a couple of my friends who were taking generic Wellbutrin.)
Bladerunner
Market Data 
Markets 
AI
