Industrial Pharmacy
Overview
Industrial Pharmacy is a discipline which includes manufacturing, development, marketing and distribution of drug products including quality assurance of these activities. This broad research area relates to different functions in pharmaceutical industry and having its relation with the scientific field.
History
The history of industrial pharmacy is intertwined with the development of the pharmaceutical industry, a sector that has its roots in the early apothecaries and drugstores. The industrialization of pharmacy began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the advent of mass production techniques and the discovery of new chemical synthesis methods. Read more about the history of the pharmaceutical industry.
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Pharmaceutical manufacturing is a highly controlled and regulated environment. Almost every process is controlled by stringent rules and regulations. There are many factors that must be taken into account during the production of pharmaceuticals, which include the original design and layout of the factory, the equipment available, and the training and hygiene standards of the staff.
Drug Development
Drug development is the process of bringing a new pharmaceutical drug to the market once a lead compound has been identified through the process of drug discovery. This involves pre-clinical research on microorganisms and animals, filing for regulatory status such as via the United States Food and Drug Administration for an investigational new drug to initiate clinical trials on humans, and may include the step of obtaining regulatory approval with a new drug application to market the drug.
Quality Assurance
Quality assurance in the pharmaceutical industry is a wide ranging concept covering all matters that individually or collectively influence the quality of a product. It is a whole system that ensures that pharmaceutical products are of the required quality for their intended use. Quality assurance is a good practice in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products, as it is the process of vouching for integrity of products to meet the standard for the intended use.
Marketing and Distribution
Pharmaceutical marketing, sometimes called medico-marketing or pharma marketing in some countries, is the business of advertising or otherwise promoting the sale of pharmaceutical drugs. Distribution in the pharmaceutical industry includes all the processes involved in getting the right drug to the right patient at the right time.
Regulatory Affairs
Regulatory affairs in the pharmaceutical industry plays a crucial role as the pharmaceutical companies have to work within strict regulations and guidelines. The role of regulatory affairs is to ensure compliance with all of these regulations and guidelines, as well as with the company's own policies and procedures.
Future Trends
The future of industrial pharmacy is likely to be driven by technology, particularly in the areas of drug discovery, development and delivery. New technologies such as nanotechnology, personalized medicines, multiple drug systems, and the use of artificial intelligence in drug design are some of the techniques that are being developed and will be used more and more in the future.