Talking about the life cycle of any kind of product, you will start to realise that there are similarities that are found across the board. We thought to take a look at how this cycle is present in the world of pharmaceutical which would certainly have some differences. Not only will this give you an understanding of the process each type of medicine undergoes, but it also shows the complexity that is present in safeguarding them. It is not just important to manufacture them, they need to be stored somewhere too right? This can be done with the help of a concept known as pharmaceutical warehousing. These are huge building or warehouses if you will, that are designed to store and safeguard the medicine that we consume. The best part about them is that they have medicines and drugs in different stages of the product cycle. This is especially true of some of the bigger pharma companies that have massive warehouses to house all their products. But what is the actual cycle like?
Research and Development
This is the first stage and arguably the most important one as it can lead to new discoveries that help improve our lives. A prime example of this in action was the R & D that went into the creation of the vaccine to treat COVID. It came at a time when we needed it the most and showed the importance of these two factors in the product cycle. Often, this research will be done so that a particular situation can be handled. Pharma companies have their own such departments who spend sometimes years trying to come up with the next product. This has already led to a lot of good things and it promises to deliver more in the future.
Testing
Once an idea comes to fruition and a product is made, it has to be tested. This is particularly important in the world of pharmaceuticals because we are dealing with something that affects the lives of people. Unless the company is completely sure that this medicine will work and is safe, it cannot be given to the public. Then there is the need to get approved and cleared by a regulatory body such as the FDA. But before all of that, the testing has to be meticulous and thorough. There are other stages in this life cycle, but these are the two that set the tone for the rest of them. Understanding this can help make sense of medicine in general.