Drug Discovery, Evaluation, and Availability to the Public

These flashcards cover key concepts related to drug discovery, development processes, and pharmaceutical policies.

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)

A system operating in Australia since 1948 to provide affordable and equitable access to medicines.

Drug Development Timeline

The process from drug discovery to market involves multiple phases including preclinical testing and regulatory review.

Imatinib (Gleevec)

A targeted therapy drug used for treating Chronic Myeloid Leukemia by inhibiting a mutated enzyme.

Phase I Clinical Trial

The first phase of human exposure testing for a new drug, primarily focusing on safety.

Phase III Clinical Trial

Large-scale trials conducted to establish efficacy and safety before a drug can be approved for market.

Colchicine

An alkaloid derived from the plant Colchicum autumnale, commonly used to treat gout.

Artemisinin

A drug derived from Artemisia annua, used for treating malaria.

Cost-Effectiveness

Economic assessment determining the best outcomes for the least financial cost in healthcare.

Therapeutic Target

The specific biological pathway or molecule that a drug aims to affect to achieve a desired therapeutic effect.

Rational Drug Design

A method of drug development that uses knowledge of biological target structures to create more effective medications.