Pharmaceutical industry

The pharmaceutical industry is a medical industry that discovers, develops, produces, and markets pharmaceutical goods such as medications. Medications are then administered to (or self-administered by) patients for curing or preventing disease or for alleviating symptoms of illness or injury. Generic drugs are typically not protected by patents, whereas branded drugs are covered by patents.

Extends: [Pharmaceutical industry](https://wikipedia.org.ai/Pharmaceutical industry), Pharmacology, Pharmacy, Industries (economics)