Industry pharmacists need a pharmacy degree and can be involved in everything from sales, to research, to law, to marketing, to general business. Specialty areas will require extra experience and training. Departments in which you may find Pharmacist in Industry include:
Pharmaceutics: developing new drugs.
- Research development: bench scientist to clinical research specialist, conducting and managing clinical trials.
- Field investigation: develop and administer drug trials.
- Epidemiology: monitor and manage safety reporting for drug products and new products.
- Production: work in both early production development and quality control responsibility.
- Regulatory affairs: work with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on regulation of drug development and promotion.
- Medical and scientific information: work as a drug information specialist for industry.
- Education: develop programs to inform professionals on uses and specific drugs.
- Sales: sell in the field or work with special high profile clients and large institutions.
- Marketing: work on advertising and/or general marketing of products.
- Finance: work with business issues and company financials.
- Legal: work on contract law or malpractice or regulatory law.
- Lobbyist: work on Capitol Hill or on the state.
Pharmaceutical industry provides more flexibility and opportunity such as travel. Many industry pharmacists find themselves working in both domestic and international divisions, which requires a lot of travel. Industry pharmacists rarely have patient contact. Within the drug information department, some pharmacists do provide answers to patients’ questions (that come in by phone or mail) about products, their use and side effects. Pharmacist can also be responsible for managing clinical trials but they don’t interact with patients.
