In addition, the Orange Book contains therapeutic equivalence evaluations (2 character rating codes) for approved multisource prescription drug products (generic drugs).
These evaluations have been prepared to serve as public information and advice to state health agencies, prescribers, and pharmacists to promote public education in the area of drug product selection and to foster containment of health care costs.
[2] Therapeutic equivalence evaluations in this publication are not official FDA actions affecting the legal status of products under the Act.
Finally, the Orange Book lists patents that are purported to protect each drug.
[3] The DrugPatentWatch website offers a "Free DrugPatentWatch Orange Book PDF Library" from which the public can download digital copies of every FDA Orange Book, from the 1st Edition in 1980 to the most recent (as of 2020).