Pharmaceutical Industry

Branded Drugs are initially marketed as new chemical intities.

The drug is discovered, researched, tested, developed, produced and marketed. The
pharmaceutical company ensures that the drug is safe and effective by conducting a series of
laboratory studies that take years to perform. The proper dosage and form are determined by
another series of lab studies. Then studies are performed at approved clinical research facilities
across the country where the drug is administered to real pets belonging to real people
according to strict protocols. These facilities may be veterinary school hospitals or private
veterinary clinics.

Generic Drugs are copies of brand name drugs. They are produced after the original patent
expires.

A generic drug is identical or bioequivalent to a brand name drug in dosage form, safety,
strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics and intended use.

The generic drug has the same active ingredient as the brand-name drug. This ingredient is the
one that cures the patient; and other, inert ingredients, which give the drug its colour, shape or
taste, vary from the brand-name drug to the generics

Generic manufacturer is not required to perform extensive animal and human studies. This
considerably reduces costs in comparison with relevant branded drugs.
generic drugs may cost 30-80% less than the original versions

Sources:

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/the-differences-between-brand-name-and-generic-
medications

http://www.paramountias.com/current-affairs/2017/August/14/is-generic-drug-deflation-good/

https://www.cadth.ca/generic-drugs/similarities-and-differences-between-brand-name-and-
generic-drugs

What is a drug?

A drug is any substance (with the exception of food and water) which, when taken into the body,
alters the body's function either physically and/or psychologically.

Drugs may be legal (e.g. alcohol, caffeine and tobacco) or illegal (e.g. cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine
and heroin).

Source: http://watershed.org.au/drug-information.html

Kinds of Drugs

I. Cardiovascular Drugs

AntiHypertensives
Ex. Nifedipine, Felodipine, Capropil, Perindopril
II. Gastrointestinal Drugs
-
Antiulcer
Ex. Axid (Nitzatidine), Carafate (Sucralfate) ,Pepcid (Famotidine)
 Antidiarrheals

Ex

What Chemical engineers do in the Pharmaceutical Industry?

Chemical engineers in the pharmaceutical industry work toward the advancement of wellness,
disease prevention, treatment and cures.

What ChemEs Do:

Some traditional roles:

Scale-up from R&D

Pilot plant ops and clinical supplies

Management of validation assurance FDA regulations and GMP compliance

Packaging and labeling (tablets, capsules, liquids, etc.)

Less common roles for ChemEs:

Chemical production management

Process simulation and troubleshooting

Project support

Process safety support

What principles are needed?

1. )Engineers need an understanding of reactions and kinetics, heat transfer, fluid flow,
distillation, extraction, crystallization, and filtration. They need an understanding of process
instrumentation to design the control systems.

2. ) Engineers need familiarity with material flow, scheduling, and time and motion science.

3.) Chemical engineers need to understand operations like vacuum drying, spray drying, freeze
drying, tabletting, and tablet coating. The science of sterility, cleaning and humidity control are
also critical here. Even personnel and material movement must be controlled in a precise way

Source:

http://www.aiche-metrony.org/Chem%20Eng%20in%20Pharma.pdf

http://www.emedexpert.com/compare/opioids-non-opioids.shtml

narcotics non narcotics

How pharmaceutical industry works

Several characteristics distinguish the pharmaceutical industry from other industries. A newly
released pharmaceutical agent is usually available only by physician prescription. Patients in effect
transfer decision-making authority on the appropriateness of medications for their ailments to the
gate-keeping physicians (or pharmacists and nurses in some countries). Generally, a prescription
may become available OTC (i.e., without physician prescription) for a non-chronic condition that
is relatively easy to self-diagnose and has low potential for harm from self-medication under
conditions of widespread availability

The pharmaceutical industry manufactures innovative products with government-granted patent

rights that may be extended after application approval from the FDA. Patents give researchers and
inventors exclusive rights to market an invention for twenty years before others may duplicate and
sell it.

http://www.encyclopedia.com/medicine/drugs/pharmacology/pharmaceutical-industry

http://www.aei.org/publication/how-the-pharmaceutical-industry-works-from-research-to-drug-
to-market/
http://www.pacificbiolabs.com/drug_stages.asp

http://www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/publications/tomorrows-pharmacist/drug-development-
the-journey-of-a-medicine-from-lab-to-shelf/20068196.article zzz

http://scientifist.com/timeline-pharmaceutical-drug-development-idea-market/