Pharmaceutical Engineering: What is it?

Pharmaceuticals have been used since the 1500s, when Germany compiled the first list of medications and their formulations. Since that time, drugs have emerged as a crucial component of healthcare. They are a mainstay of today's healthcare system and are employed in the diagnosis, prophylaxis, and treatment of illnesses as well as the restoration and modification of organic processes.

There are many different categories of pharmaceuticals. For instance, analgesics can treat a variety of pains, from minor headaches to more serious conditions like third-degree burns. Antivirals are drugs that treat viral infections like the flu. Tetanus and other illnesses are treated with antibiotics.

A medication has probably been developed to treat the illness itself or its symptoms for every medical condition. The process of developing efficient medications is, however, neither quick nor easy. Pharmaceutical engineering is the practice of creating novel clinical medications to address certain diseases, which has advanced patient care and shaped modern medicine.  

Pharmaceutical engineers' extensive training and dedication have made efficient, reliable, and secure over-the-counter and prescription pharmaceuticals available to individuals in need.

An Overview of Pharmaceutical Engineering

Pharmaceutical engineering involves the research, development, creation, and manufacturing of medicinal drugs. The engineering process starts by identifying a specific condition or ailment and researching the effects of past and current drugs used to treat it. Engineers often seek the expertise of physicians during this process. This research reveals critical information regarding the chemical stability, side effects, and overall safety of a medication.

After the research phase, new pharmaceuticals are developed by synthesizing chemical compounds in a laboratory. Pharmaceutical engineers who work in laboratory environments adhere to strict safety and quality protocols to ensure the end product is of the highest quality.

After development comes testing. During this phase of pharmaceutical engineering, new drugs are thoroughly tested for their effectiveness, safety, side effects, and chemical reactions. The end goal of the testing process is to confirm that the new drug works as intended and to prepare it for review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Once the new drug is reviewed and approved by the FDA, it can be manufactured and distributed to the public. The pharmaceutical engineering team will create a final version of the new drug, clearly identifying its unique qualities and what distinguishes it from other drugs on the market. The engineering team will also collaborate with physicians and medical researchers to establish a network of accountability and expertise for the drug.

What Does a Pharmaceutical Engineer Do?

Pharmaceutical engineers are directly involved in the research, development, creation, and manufacturing of new pharmaceuticals. Most pharmaceutical engineers work in state-of-the-art facilities and often perform the following specific job duties:

• Conceptualizing and designing products
• Synthesizing and testing compounds
• Setting safety and quality protocols
• Measuring potential side effects and stability issues
• Manufacturing products
• Labeling products and ensuring they comply with regulations
• Packaging products to optimize their distribution

Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) sets the standard for how pharmaceutical engineers should perform their jobs to help minimize the risks involved with pharmaceutical production. Originally adopted by the World Health Organization in the 1960s and now enforced by the FDA, GMP ensures that products meet quality standards and are consistently produced. It covers every aspect of production, including materials, facilities, equipment, training, and even engineers’ personal hygiene while working.

The detailed procedures of GMP are strictly adhered to by every pharmaceutical engineer working in the field, which is why the pharmaceutical industry in general is so highly regarded for its competence and consistency.

The Future of Pharmaceutical Engineering

Although the future of pharmaceutical engineering looks promising, the field is not without challenges. Labor shortages and supply chain issues pose the most serious threats to the industry. The biggest problems with the supply chain system for the pharmaceutical industry are related to obtaining active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). APIs are the primary components of drugs, and roughly 80% of them come from India, China, the European Union, and a few other countries.

U.S. dependence on foreign APIs was made evident when India imposed an export ban on active ingredients during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Harvard Business Review reports. Fires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters at key factories also sometimes occur, cutting off API supplies.

In response to supply chain issues, the Biden administration is pushing to create a domestic stockpile of pharmaceuticals to decrease reliance on foreign supplies. Manufacturing drugs domestically and improving the supply chain by leveraging private sector relationships are also being considered by the administration’s Supply Chain Disruption Task Force.

A number of key innovations in pharmaceutical engineering show promise, such as 3D-printed drugs. Hospitals and pharmacies could have the technology to produce 3D-printed tablets within the next decade or so, The Medical Futurist reports. Digital pills with embedded electronic circuits are another novel development. Rather than using a smartphone app to log when a medication was taken, a digital pill would send a signal to an external patch.

COVID-19 pressured researchers to find new ways of conducting clinical trials, which is why virtual in silico trials have gained significant traction. In silico trials allow for the testing of new drugs on virtual patients rather than real ones, which significantly streamlines the pharmaceutical engineering process, in addition to improving safety.

Be a Positive Influence on Patient Health

Pharmaceuticals are key to treating patients and maintaining a healthy population. Pharmaceutical engineering makes it possible for Americans to visit their local pharmacy and get the medications they need. It’s also how new drugs are created to combat novel medical threats and diseases.