Drugs Pharmaceuticals Biologics Devices |
The BioPharmaceutical industry ("BioPharm") includes Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, and Medical Device companies that develop drugs and devices to diagnose, prevent, or treat disease.
A 'drug" is chemical or biological article intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease. A drug achieves in primary purpose through chemical action in, or on, the body. A "device" is an instrument, machine, implant, or in vitro reagent that is intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease. A device does not achieve its primary intended purpose through chemical action and is not dependent upon being metabolized to achieve its primary intended purposes. |
Pharmaceuticals"Pharmaceuticals", also called "conventional drugs" are small molecules made by chemical synthesis or extraction from natural products.
Pharmaceuticals are synthesized, which means they are produced by combining specific chemical ingredients in a defined process. The structure of a pharmaceutical drug is well defined. |
BiologicsBiologics are a subset of drugs. Biologics are large molecules derived from natural products or synthesized by biologic organisms.
Biologics are complex molecules that may be difficult to characterize. Biological products can be composed of sugars, proteins, or nucleic acids or a combination of these substances. They may also be living cells or tissues. Biological products include products such as vaccines, blood/ blood components, somatic cells, gene therapy, and recombinant therapeutic proteins. |
Devices
Medical devices are mechanical or electrical products that are used to treat or prevent disease.
A medical devices does not achieve its primary intended purpose through chemical action and is not dependent upon being metabolized to achieve its primary intended purposes. Medical devices may be as simple as dental floss or as complicated as knee replacements, magnetic resonance imaging machines (MRIs), or defibrillators. |