Show 973: The Pros and Cons of Generic Drugs

The FDA has insisted for years that generic drugs are identical to their brand-name counterparts. Physician and medical historian Jeremy Greene writes: “Generic drugs never were–and still are not–exactly the same as their brand-name counterparts, but they are similar in ways we deem to be important.” We discuss the value of generic drugs and the questions surrounding quality control with Dr. Greene. Your questions and stories are welcome at 888-472-3366 or email [email protected] between 7 and 8 am EDT. This Week’s Guest: Jeremy A. Greene, M.D., Ph.D., is associate professor of medicine and the history of medicine and the Elizabeth Treide and A. McGehee Harvey Chair in the History of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is the author of Prescribing by Numbers: Drugs and the Definition of Disease and coeditor of Prescribed: Writing, Filling, Using, and Abusing the Prescription in Modern America, both published by Johns Hopkins. Dr. Greene’s most recent book is Generic: The Unbranding of Modern Medicine. To hear Dr. Greene discuss his new book, Generic: The Unbranding of Modern Medicine, click here. Listen to the Podcast The podcast of this program will be available the Monday after the broadcast date (Dec. 13, 2014). The show can be streamed online from this site and podcasts can be downloaded for free for four weeks after the date of broadcast. After that time has passed, digital downloads are available for $2.99. CDs may be purchased at any time after broadcast for $9.99. Buy the CD Download the mp3