Mid-1800s – 1945: From botanicals to the first synthetic drugs
The modern era of pharmaceutical industry began with local apothecaries that expanded for their … See more

Drug discovery is the process by which potential drugs are discovered or designed. In the past, most drugs have been discovered … See more

In 2011, global spending on prescription drugs topped $954 billion, even as growth slowed somewhat in Europe and North America. The United … See more

Drug marketing and lobbying
There has been increasing controversy surrounding pharmaceutical marketing and influence. There have been accusations and findings of … See more

In the United States, new pharmaceutical products must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as being both safe and effective. This process generally involves … See more

Advertising is common in healthcare journals as well as through more mainstream media routes. In some countries, notably … See more

Patents
Patents have been criticized in the developing world, as they are thought to reduce access to existing medicines. Reconciling patents … See more