Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Pharmaceutical Alternatives: Stability-Related Therapeutic Nonequivalence

Pharmaceutical Alternatives: Stability-Related Therapeutic Nonequivalence

Generic intravenous (IV) drugs are considered bioequivalent to their branded counterparts due to their 100% bioavailability upon administration. However, variations in stability among different drug products can significantly influence their therapeutic performance, even if they are pharmaceutically equivalent.Cefuroxime, a prophylactic antimicrobial, is often used as a single-dose IV injection for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. A 3 g dose typically provides...

Drug Nomenclature

Drug Nomenclature

During the development of a new pharmaceutical, the manufacturer initially assigns a code name to the drug. Once approved, the drug receives a United States Adopted Name (USAN)—a generic, nonproprietary designation. Upon being listed in the United States Pharmacopeia, this nonproprietary name becomes the drug's official name. Additionally, the manufacturer assigns a proprietary name or trademark, which serves as the brand name under which the drug is marketed. It is worth noting that the same...

Drug Products: Biologics, Biosimilars and Interchangeables

Drug Products: Biologics, Biosimilars and Interchangeables

Biologics, derived from living sources such as humans, animals, or microorganisms, represent a significant category of pharmaceuticals. These complex molecules, developed through advanced biotechnological methods or purified from natural sources, include essential medical treatments like insulin and growth hormones. The complexity of biologics arises from their large molecular structures and the intricate processes required for their production, making them distinct from conventional...

Bioequivalence: Overview

Bioequivalence: Overview

Pharmaceutical equivalents, by definition, are drug products with the same active ingredient in the same quantities, encapsulated in identical dosage forms, and intended for the same administration routes. These pharmaceutical equivalents are deemed bioequivalent if the bioavailability of the active entity in the drug preparations is similar. Moreover, pharmaceutical equivalents demonstrating bioequivalence are also regarded as therapeutically equivalent. This means that when used as directed,...

Bioequivalence of Drugs: Drugs with Multiple Indications

Bioequivalence of Drugs: Drugs with Multiple Indications

The concept of therapeutic equivalence (TE) in drugs with multiple indications is complex. A generic drug may be therapeutically equivalent to a brand-name product for one specific indication, but this doesn't necessarily mean it's equivalent for all other indications. Evidence of TE in one patient group and bioequivalence shown in healthy volunteers can support—but not confirm—TE for other indications. However, definitive proof requires individual clinical studies for each indication due to...

Pharmaceutical Equivalents

Pharmaceutical Equivalents

As defined by regulatory standards, pharmaceutical equivalents require generic drug products to have identical dosage forms and chemically identical active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). They must adhere to compendial or applicable standards for potency, content uniformity, disintegration times, and dissolution rates. In the case of modified-release dosage forms, variations in drug content are permissible as long as the delivered amount remains consistent with the innovator drug product.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Association between sedative prescriptions after hospital discharge and falls and other adverse events in older adults: a population-based cohort study.

CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne·2026

Same author

Anesthesia for cataract surgery in Canada: deploying a limited workforce where it matters most.

CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne·2026

Same author

Pharmacist-Led Hospital Discharge Care-Identifying Those Who Benefit Most.

JAMA network open·2026

Same author

After Shock to After Strategy-a Resilient System or New Opportunities?

JAMA network open·2025

Same author

KIDNEY INJURY DURING TREATMENT WITH AFLIBERCEPT VERSUS RANIBIZUMAB: A Population-Based Study.

Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.)·2025

Same author

Effect of single-entry referral models and team-based care on wait times for hip and knee joint replacement in Ontario: a simulation study.

CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2026

In Vitro Methods for Comparing Target Binding and CDC Induction Between Therapeutic Antibodies: Applications in Biosimilarity Analysis

In Vitro Methods for Comparing Target Binding and CDC Induction Between Therapeutic Antibodies: Applications in Biosimilarity Analysis

Published on: May 4, 2017

Differences in generic drug prices between the US and Canada.

Malcolm Gooi¹, Chaim M Bell

¹Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.

Applied Health Economics and Health Policy

|September 9, 2008

Summary

Generic prescription drug prices vary significantly between the US and Canada. While some generics are cheaper in the US, others are less expensive in Canada, indicating no consistent cost advantage for either country.

More Related Videos

Tracking Drug-induced Changes in Receptor Post-internalization Trafficking by Colocalizational Analysis

Tracking Drug-induced Changes in Receptor Post-internalization Trafficking by Colocalizational Analysis

Published on: July 3, 2015

Application and Methodology of the Non-destructive 19F Time-domain NMR Technique to Measure the Content in Fluorine-containing Drug Products

Application and Methodology of the Non-destructive ¹⁹F Time-domain NMR Technique to Measure the Content in Fluorine-containing Drug Products

Published on: August 22, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 2, 2026

In Vitro Methods for Comparing Target Binding and CDC Induction Between Therapeutic Antibodies: Applications in Biosimilarity Analysis

In Vitro Methods for Comparing Target Binding and CDC Induction Between Therapeutic Antibodies: Applications in Biosimilarity Analysis

Published on: May 4, 2017

Tracking Drug-induced Changes in Receptor Post-internalization Trafficking by Colocalizational Analysis

Tracking Drug-induced Changes in Receptor Post-internalization Trafficking by Colocalizational Analysis

Published on: July 3, 2015

Application and Methodology of the Non-destructive 19F Time-domain NMR Technique to Measure the Content in Fluorine-containing Drug Products

Application and Methodology of the Non-destructive ¹⁹F Time-domain NMR Technique to Measure the Content in Fluorine-containing Drug Products

Published on: August 22, 2017

Area of Science:

Health Economics
Pharmaceutical Policy
Comparative Drug Pricing

Background:

Brand-name prescription drugs are notably more expensive in the United States compared to Canada.
Contrasting non-peer-reviewed reports suggest this price disparity may not apply to generic medications.

Purpose of the Study:

To conduct a comparative analysis of generic prescription medication prices in the United States and Canada.

Main Methods:

A survey of 12 pharmacies (six in the US, six in Canada; mix of online and walk-in) was performed.
Prices for 100 doses of 19 common generic drugs were collected in March-April 2007.
The primary outcome was the total purchase price in US dollars at the prevailing exchange rate.

Main Results:

63% of generic medications (12 of 19) were found to be less expensive in the US, with an average savings of 47%.
37% of generic medications (7 of 19) were less expensive in Canada, averaging 29% savings.
Significant price variations for identical generic drugs were observed within and between both countries.

Conclusions:

Neither the US nor Canada consistently offered the lowest prices for generic medications.
Canadian price controls on patented drugs do not appear to fully translate to savings on generic medications.