According to the FDA's Protecting America's Health Through Human Drugs, the drug development process begins with basic science research. Basic science is different than clinical research because it focuses on the activity of specific proteins,...
For pharmaceutical companies, the stakes in developing new drugs are high. The journal Health Affairs estimates the cost to develop a new drug ranges from $500 million to $2,000 million. Of all the drugs introduced to the marketplace, only 30...
The U.S. system for developing and approving drugs is rigorous, complex and expensive. On the average, it takes ten to 15 years for a company to get one new medicine from the laboratory to patients, costing $1 billion or more. This significant...
With few exceptions, the first part of developing a new drug occurs during basic research. Basic research defines scientific work (either done academically, for the government or for a private company) which aims to better understand how the human...
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the central nervous system. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society estimates there about 400,000 MS patients in the U.S, with a further 200 people diagnosed each week. According to the National...
Few people are aware of the vast amount of time and money invested in getting a drug from the laboratory to the drugstore shelf. Drugs undergo exhaustive testing before being approved for use by the general population, with the whole process often...
During pregnancy, you expose your developing baby to anything you put into your body. When you have an alcoholic beverage, a cigarette or abuse prescription or illegal drugs, your baby feels the effects. No safe amount of alcohol, tobacco or drugs...
The costs and sales prices of prescription drugs are ambiguous. The cost of drugs includes development, manufacturing, marketing and various layers of markups through distribution channels before they reach the consumer. "The New Yorker" says...
Stem cells can develop into mature cells and tissues. They are classified according to their potency, a measure of the number of cell types a stem cell can develop into. Totipotent step cells, found at the earliest stages of embryonic development,...
A peptide is defined as two or more bonded amino acids. Peptides are precursors to proteins, which require at least 50 bonded amino acids, according to PeptideGuide.com. In addition to performing a host of essential functions in the body, peptides...
Human immunodefiency virus infection has no cure. However, the anti-HIV (antiretroviral) drugs that are prescribed to treat this infection can prolong the life of an infected individual by decades. The U.S. Department of Health recommends anti-HIV...
In the case of H1N1, or swine flu, antiviral medications are effective in treating and sometimes preventing this virus. As with any drug, development of medication resistance is a factor when prescribing these medications. Therefore, according to...
Zinc is essential for proper functioning of all of the body's cells. In some cases, zinc supplements can boost health and well-being. Zinc is obtained from foods and is added to some. Dietary supplements can boost zinc levels in the body. Zinc can...
Chipotles are jalapeno peppers roasted to obtain a more smoky flavor, notes TheSpiceDepot.com. Native to Mexico, chipotle peppers may have been invented by the Aztecs to improve storage of the fleshy jalapeno, which had a tendency to rot in humid...
Proactiv Green Tea Moisturizer is part of Proactiv's acne skincare line. The moisturizer is marketed as a lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer that hydrates and soothes the skin. Proactiv Green Tea Moisturizer contains 34 different ingredients,...
Bevirimat is an experimental medication being developed for the treatment of HIV and AIDS. This drug works by interfering with some of the later stages in the HIV reproduction process. Although some clinical testing has been performed on this...
Fingernails are made of protein layers called keratin and provide protection for the fingertips. According to the Mayo Clinic, nails that have become split, brittle or discolored can be a sign of health problems, so a visit to your doctor is...
Fat, an essential part of the human diet, is calorie- and energy-rich. Over-consumption of fat, however, can cause weight gain and associated health problems. This makes fat-blocking drugs a desirable target for pharmaceutical manufacturers that...
Red ginseng, also known as Panax ginseng and Asian or Korean ginseng, is a root grown for its medicinal properties. Red ginseng is available as an extract or in pill and capsule form. This supplement is not advised for children or individuals...
Cystic fibrosis is primarily characterized by recurrent lung infections and digestive and pancreatic dysfunction. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation reports that approximately 30,000 Americans have the disease. According to an article in the February...
Infection-causing microbes come in three distinct types: bacteria, viruses and fungi. If you have ever had common infections such as athlete's foot or ringworm, then you've had a fungal infection. Luckily, you can treat fungal infections with...
Lysine is an amino acid used in the formation of important structures in your body, including protein. Protein is not only used for large tissues such as muscle, but is also a crucial part of small structures like DNA and chromosomes. Deformities...
Antioxidants in your body are important to prevent damage from normal biological processes and environmental dangers. Alpha-lipoic acid is a natural chemical that functions as an antioxidant throughout your body and helps regenerate other natural...
Lactose monohydrate, or alpha-lactose monohydrate, is a crystalline milk powder. It has various properties that make it useful as a pharmaceutical filler in the manufacture of capsules and tablets. The powder is available in different grades,...
The heart pumps blood to the various organs of the body; if the heart ceases to function, massive tissue and organ death results. Heart function depends on the optimal concentration of various important ions such as calcium, potassium and sodium,...
Alterations of chemicals in the brain are responsible for triggering depression. Researchers have worked hard to understand the complexity associated with hormones and neurotransmitters in the brain and how depression is triggered, made worse, and...
Lingzhi diet products have been found to contain a number of undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients that cause serious adverse health effects. The U.S Food and Drug Administration released an updated consumer warning on March 20, 2009, yet Lingzhi...
The compounds that form as a result of your ingesting and metabolizing food and other materials are known as metabolites. The term active metabolite refers to a therapeutically effective compound that is produced when a drug is ingested and...
Ciprofloxacin, sold under the brand name Cipro, is a prescription fluroquinolone medication that is used to treat certain types of bacterial processes such as urinary tract infections, infectious diarrhea, sinus or skin infections. Cipro is not...
Post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is an psychiatric disorder most often associated with any serious psychological trauma. Learn more about the causes, symptoms and treatments for PTSD in this medical video.
Hepatitis B is liver inflammation that results from a DNA virus. Learn more about hepatitis B, including symptoms and treatments, in this video.
Adult ADHD can cause dysfunction in all areas of life which can lead to further complications. Learn how to live with adult ADHD in this free video.
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease carried in the blood and caused by the hepatitis C virus infecting the liver after blood-to-blood contact. Learn more about hepatitis C, including symptoms and treatments, in this video.