09/12/2014

The Science of ‘Sameness’: Developing Generic Medications

17:11 minutes

Are generic and brand-name medications ever really the same? Medical historian and physician Jeremy A. Greene tackles this question in his new book, Generic: The Unbranding of Modern Medicine. Greene traces the development of generic medications, from suspect substances to American healthcare mainstay. He also explains how the notion and measure of “sameness” have evolved since generic drugs were first introduced. (Read an exerpt from the book here.)

Segment Guests

Jeremy A. Greene

Jeremy A. Greene is author of Generic: The Unbranding of Modern Medicine (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2014) and an associate professor in medicine and history of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.

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About Becky Fogel

Becky Fogel is a newscast host and producer at Texas Standard, a daily news show broadcast by KUT in Austin, Texas. She was formerly Science Friday’s production assistant.

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Are Generics the Same As Brand Name Drugs?

An excerpt from "Generic: The Unbranding of Modern Medicine," by Jeremy A. Greene.

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