Final answer:
The U.S. FDA determines drug interchangeability based on therapeutic equivalence and bioequivalence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines interchangeability of drugs based on two main factors: therapeutic equivalence and bioequivalence.
Therapeutic equivalence means that the generic drug has the same active ingredient(s), strength, dosage form, and route of administration as the brand-name drug. It must also have the same clinical effects and safety profile.
Bioequivalence refers to how closely the generic drug matches the brand-name drug in terms of its rate and extent of absorption into the bloodstream. To determine bioequivalence, the FDA conducts studies comparing the generic drug with the brand-name drug to ensure that they are very similar in their pharmacokinetic properties.