Me-too drug

Me-too drug is a term used in the pharmacology and drug discovery fields to describe a medication that is structurally very similar to already established drugs, with only minor differences in the chemical structure. These drugs are also known as "follow-on" drugs or "copycat" drugs.

Overview

The development of me-too drugs is a common strategy in the pharmaceutical industry. This approach is often used when a drug has been shown to be successful in the market, prompting other companies to create similar drugs with slight modifications. The aim is to create a new product that can compete in the market without having to go through the lengthy and costly process of developing a completely new drug from scratch.

Development and Approval

The development of a me-too drug typically involves the modification of an existing drug's chemical structure to create a new compound. This new compound must then undergo clinical trials to demonstrate its safety and efficacy. The FDA or other regulatory bodies then review the trial data before approving the drug for sale.

Criticisms and Controversies

While me-too drugs can offer benefits such as improved side effect profiles, lower costs, or different modes of administration, they have also been the subject of criticism. Critics argue that the development of me-too drugs can divert resources away from the discovery of truly innovative drugs. Additionally, some argue that me-too drugs can lead to an oversaturated market, with multiple similar drugs competing for the same patient population.

See Also

• Drug discovery
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Clinical trials
• Food and Drug Administration