The pharmaceutical industry is one of the biggest industries in the U.S. and worldwide. However, many misconceptions and factual details regular North Americans don’t know about the industry go overlooked. Below, we’ll list some facts about the pharmaceutical industry that may surprise you.
Use of Lasers for Markings
Have you ever wondered how pills and tablets get those tiny labels and markings on them? Some assume manufacturers created them using molds or printed them on the drugs after curing them because they’re too fragile for precision cutting. However, they make the engravings using lasers.
Lasers are improving pill manufacturing in many ways, but one of the most prominent is that they allow for permanent, visible markings on pills and tablets without damaging the drug. With laser marking, manufacturers and industry safety inspectors can easily trace every pill and tablet for accountability and security.
The U.S. Leads the Industry
While pharmaceuticals is certainly a global industry, the U.S. market is by far the largest of any singular country in the world. The U.S. pharmaceutical industry alone makes up approximately 40 percent of the industry’s worldwide drug development, manufacturing, and revenue.
The numbers aren’t surprising when you consider that half of the ten largest pharmaceutical companies in the world reside in the U.S., like Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Eli Lilly.
Most North American Adults Have a Prescription
One of the major reasons that the North American pharmaceutical industry and prescription pill market are so prosperous is that many take medication. Industry researchers estimate that 70 percent of North American adults aged 40-79 have at least one prescription, with many having multiple.
These statistics prove the acceptance of pharmaceutical drugs as tools for combatting physical and mental ailments in North American society. There’s little stigma or hesitancy about taking a prescription drug to deal with a health issue in the U.S. compared to other countries.
Most Drugs Don’t Pass FDA Inspection
Another surprising fact about the pharmaceutical industry is that while the U.S. leads the world in pharmaceutical research, development, and revenue, that doesn’t mean it’s easy for our pharmacies to stock approved prescription medications. The Federal Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) must review each prescription before they can line pharmacy shelves.
CDER’s reviews and inspections of a potential new drug are rigorous, with less than 10 percent of applicants receiving FDA approval every year. In most years, they approve less than 50 out of hundreds of drugs. These strict safety and security measures allow U.S. citizens and doctors to feel confident when taking their medications.
