Court rules US should control generic drugs

March 23, 1983

A unanimous Supreme Court ruled that new generic drugs must be treated like other new drugs. The 9-0 decision said the drugs should be tested by the government for safety and effectiveness before being sold to the public. It reversed a federal appeals court ruling that found the Food and Drug Administration had no authority to block the sale of generic drugs it had not approved. Generic drugs are less expensive versions of brand-name products.