What is a characteristic of the drugs listed in the Orange Book?

The characteristic of the drugs listed in the Orange Book that makes it stand out is that it provides therapeutic equivalence evaluations. The Orange Book, officially known as the "Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations," is published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and serves as a reference for approved drug products.

The therapeutic equivalence evaluations in the Orange Book determine whether various drug products, especially generics and brand-name drugs, are interchangeable. This guidance is important for prescribers, pharmacists, and patients to ensure that they can safely use a generic product as a substitution for a brand-name drug when appropriate. The evaluations take into account the active ingredient, dosage form, route of administration, and strength to assess whether two products are therapeutically equivalent, meaning they will have the same clinical effect and safety profile.

The other options do not capture the essence of the Orange Book. The drugs listed are not all considered experimental, as many approved drugs are fully marketed and used. The Orange Book does not restrict itself to non-prescription drugs only; it includes both prescription and non-prescription drugs. Additionally, while the book does include listings for generic drugs, it does not exclusively represent them, as brand-name drugs are included