The pharmaceutical industry discovers, develops, produces, and markets drugs or pharmaceutical drugs for use as medications to be administered to patients (or self-administered), with the aim to cure, vaccinate, or alleviate symptoms.
Pharmaceutical companies may deal in generic or brand medications and medical devices, as well as be involved in the human or animal side of pharmaceutical manufacturing. This industry is subject to a variety of laws and regulations that govern the patenting, testing, safety, and efficacy of producing, using, and marketing pharmaceutical medications.