An Introduction to Pharmaceutical Sciences

1

Introduction

Learning objective

This introductory chapter provides students with a description of pharmaceutical science and its major components: pharmaceuticals and the pharmaceutical industry. There is a discussion of the gradual development of the industry, its multidisciplinary nature, its economics and technology, its impact on global health, and its ethical nature. Some pharmaceutical industries and their contributions to human life expectancy around the globe are briefly presented.

The mission of pharmaceutical science is to improve global health by discovering, developing, and producing quality medicines that are safe, appropriate, effective, affordable, and cost-effective, and widely distributing them around the world (Figure 1.1 ...