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Glossary · Tier 1

Therapeutic Equivalence (TE)

Also known as: TE, Therapeutically Equivalent, AB-rated

Verified from FDA Drugs@FDA Glossary on 06-02-2026
Quick answer

Therapeutic Equivalence (TE) is a classification used by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to identify drug products that can be substituted for one another in practice. It typically applies to generic versions of brand-name drugs that meet defined criteria for pharmaceutical equivalence and bioequivalence. The FDA definition below sets out the standard.

MedivaScan summary. The authoritative source quote follows below.

FDA Drugs@FDA Glossary definition

Drug products classified as therapeutically equivalent can be substituted with the full expectation that the substituted product will produce the same clinical effect and safety profile as the prescribed product. Drug products are considered to be therapeutically equivalent only if they meet these criteria:

U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationView on source ›Verbatim quote. Last verified 06-02-2026.
For information only. MedivaScan summarizes public FDA data and is not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before changing any medication. If you experience a serious reaction, contact your doctor or call 911.