Pharmacy (from the Greek φάρμακον = drug) is the profession charged with ensuring the safe use of medication. Traditionally, pharmacists have compounded and dispensed medications on the orders of physicians. More recently, pharmacy has come to include other services related to patient care including clinical practice, medication review, and drug information. Some of these new pharmaceutical roles are now mandated by law in various legislatures. Pharmacists, therefore, are drug therapy experts, and the primary health professionals who optimise medication management to produce positive health-outcomes.

The symbols most commonly associated with pharmacy are the mortar and pestle and the (recipere) character. Pharmacy organisations often employ other elements, such as the Bowl of Hygieia, conical measures, and caduceuses in their logos. Other symbols are common in different countries such as the green Greek cross in France and Great Britain, the increasingly-rare Gaper in The Netherlands, and a red stylised letter A in Germany.

Disciplines

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The field of Pharmacy can generally be divided into three main disciplines:

• Pharmaceutics
• Pharmaceutical chemistry (often Medicinal chemistry)
• Pharmacy practice

More on [ Pharmacy ]

Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry News From Medical News Today

Watson Pharmaceuticals Receives FDA Approval For Generic PLAN B(R)
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:00:00 -0700
Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: WPI), a leading specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc., has received approval today from the United States Food and Drug Administration on its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for levonorgestrel tablets, 0.75 mg, for women seventeen years and younger.
BioCis Pharma Reports Positive Phase IIa Clinical Results In Atopic Dermatitis
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:00:00 -0700
BioCis Pharma Ltd., a privately held drug development company with its headquarters in Turku, Finland, announced positive results from its Phase IIa clinical trial of ProtoCure(TM) emulsion cream, the company's novel topical drug for dermatology. This double-blind, placebo-controlled study, conducted in Finland, included 13 patients with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis who applied the ProtoCure emulsion cream to the affected skin areas twice daily for up to four weeks.
ThromboGenics And BioInvent Start Recruitment Of Second 100 Patient Cohort In Phase II DVT Prophylaxis Study With TB-402
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:00:00 -0700
ThromboGenics NV (Euronext Brussels: THR) and co-development partner BioInvent International (OMXS: BINV) announce that they have started recruitment of a second cohort of patients for their Phase II trial of TB-402. This follows completion of recruitment of the first cohort of 100 patients ahead of schedule. TB-402 is a novel, long acting anticoagulant that is being developed for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) following orthopaedic surgery.

Pharmacy / Pharmacist News From Medical News Today

A Selection Of Recent Studies And Surveys
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Current Status Of The Development Programs Of New Indications And Formulations For Aricept(R) For Enhancing Patient Value
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:00:00 -0700
Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, President & CEO: Haruo Naito, "Eisai") and Eisai Corporation of North America (Headquarters: Woodcliff Lake, NJ, Chairman and CEO Hajime Shimizu) are currently focusing on three clinical development programs for the company's major product Aricept(R) (donepezil hydrochloride tablets) to further contribute to patients with Alzheimer's disease. As progress in those programs has been made, Eisai announces the status as follows: 1.
Impact Of Medicare Part D On Medical Spending Addressed By NEJM Study
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:00:00 -0700
After enrolling in Medicare Part D, seniors who previously had limited or no drug coverage spent more on prescriptions and less on other medical care services such as hospitalizations and visits to the doctor's office, according to a University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health study.

Food and Drug Administration--Press Releases

FDA Approves Multaq to Treat Heart Rhythm Disorder
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:39:00 -0000
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Multaq tablets (dronedarone) to help maintain normal heart rhythms in patients with a history of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter (heart rhythm disorders). The drug is approved to be used in patients whose hearts have returned to normal rhythm or who will undergo drug or electric-shock treatment to restore a normal heart beat.
FDA: Boxed Warning on Serious Mental Health Events to be Required for Chantix and Zyban
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:17:00 -0000
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced that it is requiring manufacturers to put a Boxed Warning on the prescribing information for the smoking cessation drugs Chantix (varenicline) and Zyban (bupropion). The warning will highlight the risk of serious mental health events including changes in behavior, depressed mood, hostility, and suicidal thoughts when taking these drugs.
FDA Seeks Public Input on Tobacco Regulation
Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:37:00 -0000
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that it is seeking public input on the implementation of its historic new authority overseeing tobacco products in the United States. In a Federal Register notice, the agency invites the public to provide information and share views on a wide range of topics, from product content to advertising and marketing.

Food and Drug Administration--Recalls

Precision Foods Inc. Recalls Madagascar Vanilla Cocoa Because of Possible Health Risk
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:18:00 -0000
Precision Foods Inc., of St. Louis, Missouri, is recalling certain Madagascar Vanilla cocoa as a precaution given that the potential exists that the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.
Meijer Announces Voluntary Recall of Some Meijer Brand Instant Non-fat Dry Milk Citing Possible Health Risk
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:08:00 -0000
Meijer has initiated a voluntary recall of one type of its Meijer Brand Instant Non-fat Dry Milk because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
CPI Foods, Inc Recalls Non Fat Dry Milk Because of Possible Health Risk
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:17:00 -0000
CPI Foods, Inc of Dallas, TX is recalling approximately 15,000 (net wt. 20g) packets of non fat dry milk because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

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