The world of pharmaceuticals is full of intense competition and exciting advances, but the balance sheets of the big industry players don’t always fully reflect that reality. It’s common for companies to coast along on the strength of past, lucrative accomplishments, with newer drugs and treatments accounting for a very small piece of their yearly earnings. Industry examiners, however, tend not to be as concerned with what companies once did. Instead, in the eternal effort to figure out who is doing the most that is new and exciting, they might turn to the “Freshness Index.” Curious about what this index.. READ MORE »
The post-release period in a drug’s development—properly known as the “postmarketing surveillance” period, is one of immense importance. Additional testing and data gathering are conducted to detail the real effects that a drug has on the wide population using the product, with the findings then used to refine messaging about potential safety issues, and potentially whether the drug can continue to be sold. In Canada, postmarketing surveillance is managed by the Marketed Health Products Directorate (MHPD), which oversees and conducts a number of important functions required to be performed after a drug’s release. Want to learn a bit more about.. READ MORE »
Among the many tricky problems faced by the pharmaceutical industry, the fact that each patient is unique creates a particularly difficult one to solve. For medication to be affordable, it often needs to be mass-produced, which means a “one size fits all” approach is taken, rather than the creation of medication made for maximum effectiveness for each individual. With qualities like size, age, gender, and many other factors contributing to the ways in which a drug might react with the body, this approach complicates dosing, leads to uncertainty about side effects, and presents a number of other difficulties for patients.. READ MORE »
Are you considering returning to college after a long hiatus? Whether you want to upgrade your skillset to get promoted to your dream role, make a complete career switch, or modernize your knowledge in your field, it’s never too late to return to learning. Naturally, many adult learners are concerned about their study skills and ability to succeed in a learning environment after so much time away from the classroom. However, as an adult learner, you have a unique advantage. Your life experience and previous career and educational endeavors will be an asset in your ability to succeed. As for.. READ MORE »
Professionals working in pharmaceutical quality control play an important role testing and regulating drugs as they are manufactured for market. There are many different types of drugs and medications that come in a wide variety of forms. From tablets, liquids, and gels, to vials for injections and transdermal patches, each method of delivery has its own testing needs and standards. If you’re considering a career in pharmaceutical quality control, here’s a quick introduction to transdermal patches. Pros with Pharmaceutical Quality Control Careers Know How Transdermal Patches Work Transdermal patches are a vehicle for delivering medication through an adhesive patch placed.. READ MORE »
Medical marijuana is increasing in its importance in Canada, as it becomes a more and more common treatment option for people with a number of ailments and injuries. Though it’s often seen as a natural alternative to some of the synthetic compounds that are also commonly used in medicine, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t controls in place dictating how marijuana and marijuana-derived products should be packaged and sold. Labelling is a particularly important part of the process of creating and selling marijuana products, with producers expected to be very specific about how they present information about them. Want to.. READ MORE »
Fermentation is a method used in food production that is as old as human civilization. Involving the use of microorganisms (yeast, bacteria, or mold) to change the properties of food, it has brought the world alcoholic beverages and delicious foods like bread, yogurt, cheese, pickles, and much more. Fermentation has some interesting effects, which have made it a popular method of extending the lifespan of foods and of making interesting alterations to their flavours. Curious about what food fermentation has to offer? Here’s what students who want to work in quality control for food need to know. Fermentation Is a.. READ MORE »
The process of developing modern medicines has been one of exploration, with numerous kinds of delivery mechanisms used for different forms of treatment. Today, people take medication that comes in a variety of forms—everything from injections into the bloodstream, to dermal patches, to capsules filled with powdered medication, and beyond. One less common delivery system that is nonetheless hugely important is aerosol delivery. An aerosol is a collection of solid or liquid particles mixed in with gas, and using this format to deliver medication can have a few advantages over other kinds. Here is a look at the two main.. READ MORE »
For many years, drugs were the only way to treat or mitigate the symptoms of a disease. But scientists around the world are working on a new approach that could eventually cure people with incurable diseases and even eradicate some diseases altogether. How do they plan to do this? Researchers are attempting to alter human beings at the most basic level using gene therapy. By introducing specific genes into a patient’s DNA, scientists believe they can drastically change medical care as we know it. Read on to learn more about gene therapy. Students in Drug Safety Courses May Know How.. READ MORE »
Do you want to start a promising career that allows you to help Canadians across the country stay safe and healthy? If you become a clinical trial and pharmacovigilance professional, you can do just that. Professionals in this field are responsible for the safety of drugs and medical devices. They also make sure that clinical trials are conducted safely and adhere to proper protocol. By ensuring that clinical trials run smoothly, pharmacovigilance professionals help expedite the process of getting life-changing pharmaceuticals to market. These pharmaceuticals can make a huge difference in the lives of people suffering from disease, illness, or.. READ MORE »
