The pharmaceutical industry revolutionized healthcare. Today, many of us pick up prescriptions and over-the-counter medicine from our local pharmacies. You could spend days diving into history and medicine development, or you can look at these fun facts about the pharmaceutical industry to broaden your knowledge about this useful industry.

Medicine Development Is a Long Process

Medicine development is a long process. According to Biopharmaceutical Research & Development, the first stage of the process takes approximately three to six years.

Development requires preliminary research through companies or academic institutions. Afterward, target validation, early safety tests, pre-clinical trials, optimization, and more clinical trials must occur.

Then, medications require approval, which takes more time and certifications from the FDA. From research to approval, things can take well over a decade to complete.

Contamination Is a Big Challenge for Manufacturers

One of the biggest challenges for development is contamination. The ultimate goal is to create purified supplements for consumers. However, different factors can result in contamination. For instance, inexperienced personnel, mismanaged facilities, and improper materials can introduce impurities during manufacturing.

To mitigate issues, scientists classify possible contaminants. Physical impurities include fiber materials, particles, or substances interfering with packaging. Chemical contaminants refer to molecules, vapors, and gases affecting sterile pharmaceutical products. Manufacturers must acknowledge potential issues and have plans to minimize contamination.

Ultrafiltration Impacts Product Purity

Ultrafiltration is one of the ways filter applications are used in the pharmaceutical world. Manufacturers use the process to separate, concentrate, or purify macromolecules. Ultrafiltration helps produce plasma and vaccines but has other applications like biotechnology. Essentially, ultrafiltration is a type of membrane filtration that uses pressure to help small molecules flow.

Advertising Helps Sell Medications

Another fun fact about the pharmaceutical industry is that advertising helps sell medications. Along with development, companies spend a lot of money on marketing. Advertising is necessary because it informs consumers and medical professionals.

Ads discuss medication use and treatment for conditions. Typically, commercials target consumers, and medical journal ads target healthcare professionals. Both platforms discuss the benefits and side effects of supplements. The ultimate goal, however, is to encourage consumer use of the medication.

There Are Top-Prescribed Medications in the US

Doctors prescribe medications for different types of conditions. But the most prescribed medications help manage high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. That said, some manufacturers experience a high demand for certain medications. Some of the top prescriptions include Lisinopril (Zestril), Levothyroxine (Synthroid), and Atorvastatin (Lipitor).

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