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Read the latest info on pharmaceutical manufacturers

Check out the latest news on pharmaceutical manufacturers.

I recommend: Use the Yahoo! Finance Center to fill you in on the major drug manufacterers' latest news and information. DrugInfoNet is another news source with its daily health news feed.

Keep an eye on the pharmaceutical manufacturer pipeline

Watch what drugs are in development with the major pharmaceutical manufacturers. Keeping an eye on the influx of a drug type can ensure that your valuable funds are not exhausted on a drug category that has already been tapped into.

I recommend: Find out the latest medicines in development from Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), a group that represents the country’s leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies. You can either search their database or read their reports. Take advantage of the Pharmaceutical Research & Development News Sections of Pharmaceutical Industry Today to find daily information for pharmaceuticals professionals and those interested in the industry.

Sign up for a pharmaceutical manufacturer news feed

Stay informed by signing up for a daily pharmaceutical manufacturer news feed. Watch the latest developments as they are occurring, and keep an eye out as generics start to be introduced as patents expire.

I recommend: Sign up for the FiercePharma Daily Pharma Industry Briefing, which will provide you industry news, market trends, developments and insights. Read the latest drug manufacturer news or sign up for the free news feed at Wikio.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Watch the pharmaceutical manufacturer news feeds for industry trends. These won't seen on a daily basis, but you will probably notice these more so from year to year. For even greater research possibilities, start tracking trends from manufacturer to manufacturer and see how they compare to your business.

Guide to Pharmaceutical Manufacturers

Find the right pharmaceutical manufacturers to supply your busy medical or veterinary practice

By Andrea Townsley, Owner, Keystone Writing Services

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Give generic pharmaceutical manufacturers a chance to increase your profits

Generics help keep health care affordable. Often, generic drugs are the chemical equivalent of the more expensive brand name drug. They have the same therapeutic effects, so prescribing these to your patients can save you both a nice chunk of cash.

I recommend: Go to Barr Pharmaceuticals for the generic drugs they offer; selections range from acetaminophen with codeine to zonisamide. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA also offers a very large selection of generics.

Make a statement using brand name drug manufacturers

Some patients prefer brand name products. When giving out samples, most patients like to see that well-known name on the package and that will make them feel confident in the product you've given them.

I recommend: Stock up on prescription and sample products for your eye care practice at Bausch & Lomb. They offer a convenient online ordering system for all your vision care and surgical needs. For your women's health center, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals provides many well-known brands that women trust.

Find a veterinary drug manufacturer to supply your animal care practice

Being a veterinarian is unique in that you can both prescribe and dispense full supplies of drugs. You're not limited to samples to push certain brands. You're responsible for stocking not just preventive vaccines but a whole closet-full of drugs to give to pet owners when their animal is sick.

I recommend: Buy vaccines for companion animals at Intervet. They also carry drugs for pigs, horses, ruminants, poultry and marine animals. Wyeth, a reputable manufacturer of drugs for both animals and humans, offers a selection of vaccines and pharmaceuticals for almost any animal that comes into your office.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you're having trouble locating a drug company, use a pharmaceutical manufacturer directory to find their contact information.

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Discover background information on the pharmaceutical manufacturer industry

Find out about pharmaceutical manufacturer earning potential, industry outlook, news, products and more.

I recommend: The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics can fill you in on many aspects of the pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing industry. Their site covers the nature of the industry, its working conditions, employment in the industry, occupations in the industry, training needed to be in the industry as well as advancement opportunities, industry outlook, earning potential of the industry as well as where you can find additional information. Use Pharmaceutical Online to find out about industry news, products, case studies, white papers and industry technology.

Look at the issues facing the brand name and generic pharmaceutical manufacturer businesses

See what issues are affecting pharmaceutical manufacturers nationwide and worldwide.

I recommend: Check out the issues being tackled by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations, non-profit, non-governmental organization in developed and non-developed countries. Look at the issues being tackled by the Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA), a group that is comprised of manufacturers and distributors of finished generic pharmaceutical products, manufacturers and distributors of bulk active pharmaceutical chemicals as well as suppliers to the generic pharmaceutical industry.

Take advantage of the many pharmaceutical manufacturer directory listings

Use one of the many pharmaceutical manufacturer directory listings available online to find drug companies in each drug category.

I recommend: Drugs.com offers an alphabetic listing of drug pharmaceutical manufacturer information. The Virtual Library also offers a listing of Pharmaceutical Companies with linked web pages for easier access and research.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Pharmaceutical manufacturers create and patent new drugs. As those drugs near the end of their patent period, generic pharmaceutical manufacturers take advantage of the end of the patent to start manufacturing the drug under a different generic name. Generic drugs are great for the consumer because they allow for a less expensive alternative to be purchased that treats the same illnesses. The same is not as great for brand name drug manufacturers. Once their patent runs out, they have to make the cost analysis of whether to continue to put marketing dollars into their product even though there will be generic competitors on the market. A classic example of a pharmaceutical company that continued to do this successfully is Tylenol.

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Generic drugs

Generic drugs are sold at substantially lower prices than brand name drugs, saving consumers and hospitals billions of dollars each year. They are regulated and tested, just like brand name drugs, and offer the same benefits as brand names. Generic drugs are created after the patent for a drug expires.

I recommend: MedicineNet provides an article that compares generic and brand name drugs.

Biotechnology

A broad definition of biotechnology is the use of biological systems or organisms to create products that improve life. In the pharmaceutical field, it includes research and processes to produce new drugs.

I recommend: The Biotechnology Industry Organization gives detailed information about biotechnology processes and the industry in general.

Veterinary drugs

Veterinary drugs include vaccines used by veterinarians as well as prescription medicines and treatments that are sold in animal hospitals and pet supply stores. They include drugs for household pets as well as farm and exotic animals. Some veterinary drugs are made by the animal health division of large pharmaceutical companies, while others are made by specialty manufacturers.

I recommend: Find out more about the many types of veterinary drugs that are available at Drugs. The website lists descriptions of veterinary drugs by species and by drug name.

Drug regulations

All drugs in the United States must be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA.) Approval is a long process that includes laboratory testing, clinical trials and comprehensive FDA review.

I recommend: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration provides information on how drugs get approved for sale and use.

Dietary supplements

Dietary supplements are over-the-counter drugs that are used to supplement the diet and provide health or fitness benefits. They include vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids and enzymes.

I recommend: See the Iowa State University Extension website for information about dietary supplements and a database of individual products.

Clinical trials

Clinical trials are research studies of experimental drugs or treatments. During clinical trials, participants are studied for side effects and treatment effectiveness. Being aware of news in clinical trials can help to identify innovative new drugs.

I recommend: ClinicalTrials.gov provides detailed information about clinical trials.