pharmaceutical

Pharmaceutical refers to medicines and the science and industry involved in their discovery, development, manufacture, and distribution. The term can describe the substances themselves—active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished dosage forms—as well as the broader field that encompasses drug research, production, regulation, and commerce. In pharmacology, the study of how drugs interact with biological systems is distinguished from pharmacy, which focuses on preparing and dispensing medications.

The pharmaceutical industry includes research organizations, contract research and manufacturing organizations, biotechnology firms, and large multinational companies. Products range from prescription drugs to over-the-counter medicines, vaccines, biologics, and generics. The development process typically involves discovery, preclinical testing, clinical trials, and regulatory review to demonstrate safety and efficacy before a product can be marketed. After approval, pharmacovigilance monitors adverse effects and quality control ensures consistent manufacturing.

Regulation is stringent and varies by country but commonly requires compliance with good manufacturing practice (GMP), good laboratory practice (GLP), and good clinical practice (GCP) standards, along with labeling, post-market surveillance, and risk management plans.

Current trends include personalized or precision medicine, biosimilars, biologics manufacturing, digital health tools, and supply chain integrity. Access, affordability, and ethical considerations in clinical trials and drug pricing are ongoing policy issues in many regions.

The term pharmaceutical therefore covers both the science of drug action and the industry responsible for delivering medicines that aim to prevent, treat, or manage disease and improve public health.