Definitions

pharmacophore an ensemble of steric and electronic features that is necessary to ensure the optimal
supramolecular interactions with a specific biologic target and to trigger (or block) its
biologic response
pharmacovigilance is defined as the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding
and prevention of adverse effects or any other drug-related problem
P value is the probability of obtaining results as extreme as the observed results of a statistical
hypothesis test, assuming that the null hypothesis is correct
Reliability defined as the probability that a product, system, or service will perform its intended
function adequately for a specified period of time, or will operate in a defined
environment without failure
Prevalence refers to proportion of persons who have a condition at or during a particular time period
Incidence refers to the proportion or rate of persons who develop a condition during a particular
time period
pharmacoepidemio is the study of the utilization and effects of drugs in large numbers of people; it provides
logy an estimate of the probability of beneficial effects of a drug in a population and the
probability of adverse effects
Bioavailability the fraction (percentage) of an administered dose of unchanged medicine that reaches the
)blood stream (systemic circulation)
Validity The extent to which a concept, conclusion or measurement is well-founded and likely
corresponds accurately to the real world
mortality is the state of being mortal, or susceptible to death
morbidity Refers to having a disease or a symptom of disease, or to the amount of disease within a
population
pandemic an epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very wide area, crossing international
boundaries and usually affecting a large number of people
Role of pharmacist The quality of medicines supplied to patients. ... ensuring that the medicines prescribed to
patients are suitable. advising patients about medicines, including how to take them, what
reactions may occur and answering patients' questions
Decentralized Is Not More Cost-Effective
Pharmacy Service The pharmacist was able to focus on direct patient care while pharmacists in a satellite or
central pharmacy fulfilled distribution duties
Health Literacy the degree to which an individual has the capacity to obtain, communicate, process, and
understand basic health information and services to make appropriate health decisions
biopharmaceutical study of the physical and chemical properties of drugs and their proper dosage as related
to the onset, duration, and intensity of drug action
allele is a variant form of a given gene, meaning it is one of two or more versions of a known
mutation at the same place on a chromosome
genotype genetic makeup of an organism, means that they have two alleles at each genetic position,
or locus, with one allele inherited from each parent
polymorphism the occurrence of multiple alleles at a locus, where at least two alleles occur with a
frequency greater than 1%
plasmid is a small, circular, double-stranded DNA molecule that is distinct from a cell's
chromosomal DNA. Plasmids naturally exist in bacterial cells, and they also occur in
some eukaryotes
half life (symbol t1⁄2) is the time required for a quantity to reduce to half of its initial value.
Orphan Drug intended for the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of a rare disease or condition
Other Definitions Designation Program provides orphan status to drugs and biologics which are defined as
those intended for the safe and effective treatment, diagnosis or prevention of rare
diseases/disorders that affect fewer than 200,000 people
Category A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the
first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters)
Category B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no
adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
Category C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no
adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of
the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks.
Category D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from
investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may
warrant use of the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks.
Category X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is
positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational
or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use of the drug in pregnant women
clearly outweigh potential benefits