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The United States is the world leader in pharmaceutical
research, as suggested by data from the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The Industry
is “one of the largest employers of scientists in the United
States – and its success or failure relies heavily on their
ability to make breakthroughs”, according to the
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. The
US Department of Labor and Statistics reports that this
industry ranks among the fastest growing manufacturing
industries in the United States.
The Pharmaceutical Industry Defined
The U.S. Pharmaceutical
industry has achieved worldwide prominence through research
and development (R&D) work on new drugs, and spends a
relatively high proportion of its funds on R&D compared with
other industries. This industry has produced a variety of
medicinal and other health-related products undreamed of by
even the most imaginative apothecaries of the past. These
drugs save the lives of millions of people from various
diseases and permit many ill people to lead normal lives.
The pharmaceutical industry
consists of about 2,500 places of employment, located
throughout the country. These include establishments that
make pharmaceutical preparations or finished drugs;
biological products, such as serums, bulk chemicals and
botanicals used in making finished drugs; and diagnostic
substances such as pregnancy and blood glucose kits.
The
Biotechnology Industry Defined
Advances in biotechnology and
information technology are transforming drug discovery and
development. Within biotechnology, scientists have learned
a great deal about human genes, but the real work –
translating that knowledge into viable new drugs –is just
beginning. Many new drugs are expected to be developed in
the coming years. Where it once took 15 years to develop a
new drug, advances in technology and the knowledge of how
cells work have allowed researchers to shave years off that
incubation period. New technology allows life scientists to
test thousands of drug candidates in a single day.
According to the Biotechnology
Industry Organization, there are more than 370 drugs and
vaccines currently in clinical trials targeting diseases
such as Alzheimer’s, AIDS, arthritis and diabetes.
Consumers are already enjoying biotechnology foods such as
soybean and corn. Many environmental biotechnology products
are used to clean up hazardous wastes without the dependence
on harmful chemicals. DNA fingerprinting, another biotech
process, has made a dramatic impact on forensic medicine,
anthropology and wildlife management.
Jobs' Growth
and Outlook
Because so
many of the products generated in the biotechnology and
pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing industry are
related to preventive or routine healthcare, rather than
just illness, demand is expected to increase as the
population expands. Even during fluctuating economic
conditions, there will be a market for over-the-counter and
prescription drugs, including the diagnostics used in
hospitals, laboratories, and homes; the vaccines used
routinely on infants and children; analgesics and other
symptom-easing drugs; and antibiotics and “miracle” drugs
for life-threatening diseases. The growing number of older
people who will require more healthcare services will
further stimulate demand – along with the growth of both
public and private health insurance programs, which
increasingly cover the cost of drugs and medicines.
Other factors expected to increase the
demand for drugs include greater personal income, the rising
health consciousness and expectations of the general public
and a more industry-friendly regulatory environment that has
streamlined the FDA approval process for “priority” drugs –
those the FDA concludes are potentially life-saving
treatments.
As a result, the number of wage and salary jobs in pharmaceutical and
medicine manufacturing is expected to increase by about 23
percent over the 2002-12 period, compared with 16 percent
for all industries combined. Specific needs exist for chemists and other
scientists, as well as those with a science background to
serve as pharmaceutical representatives. More
information is available on our "Jobs and Jobs Growth" page.
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