What is the minimum rating for a selected pharmaceutically equivalent drug according to the orange book?

The minimum rating for a selected pharmaceutically equivalent drug according to the Orange Book is "A." The Orange Book, officially known as the "Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations," includes a system of ratings that assess the therapeutic equivalence of drug products.

Drugs rated with an "A" designation, such as "A" or "AA," are considered therapeutically equivalent to their reference listed drug. In contrast, "B" designations suggest that the drugs are not therapeutically equivalent due to various factors like bioavailability or formulation differences.

The "AB" rating indicates that the pharmaceutical product meets certain bioequivalence requirements, whereas a designation starting with "B," like "BC," implies that there are concerns over therapeutic equivalence or bioequivalence for those specific formulations. Hence, while AB or AA drugs are also deemed equatable, the primary category of "A" is essential for establishing basic therapeutic equivalence, making it the minimum required rating.

Therefore, understanding this classification helps pharmacists ensure they select drugs that will perform similarly in a clinically relevant manner.