Which book acts as a reference for evaluating therapeutic equivalence?

The Orange Book, officially known as the "Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations," is the authoritative reference for determining therapeutic equivalence of prescription drugs. It is published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and includes a list of approved drug products along with their therapeutic equivalence evaluations.

The Orange Book categorizes products based on their bioequivalence and therapeutic equivalence, providing a reliable resource for healthcare providers, pharmacists, and others involved in medication management. This ensures that when a product is prescribed or dispensed, it is therapeutically acceptable to substitute one product for another (like a brand name for a generic) without compromising treatment effectiveness.

In contrast, the other books mentioned serve different purposes. The Red Book is primarily a pricing guide for prescription and over-the-counter medications. The Green Book focuses on animal drugs. The Pink Book is related to vaccines and immunizations. Thus, while these resources are valuable in their respective areas, they do not provide the same comprehensive information on therapeutic equivalence as the Orange Book does.