Pharmacology is a science involving the study of the effects of drugs and other chemical substances on organisms, the investigation of their effects and mechanisms of interaction with biological systems, and the development of new drugs for the treatment and prevention of various diseases. Pharmacology (German translation: Pharmakologie) combines knowledge from biology, chemistry, medicine and other scientific disciplines in order to better understand the effects of drugs.

The most important aspects of pharmacology include:

• Pharmacodynamics: The study of the mechanisms of action of drugs at the molecular and cellular level at the site of action (German translation: Wirkort), including the interaction of drugs with receptors and biological systems in the body.
• Pharmacokinetics: The study of the route by which a drug enters the body, its distribution in tissues and organs, its metabolism and its excretion.
• Toxicology (German: Toxikologie): The investigation of the toxic and harmful effects of drugs and chemical substances as well as the development of methods for the investigation and prevention of poisoning.
• Clinical pharmacology: Application of the principles of pharmacology in clinical practice, including dosage determination, drug selection and therapy monitoring.
• Experimental pharmacology: Animal testing and in-vitro studies to evaluate the safety and efficacy of new drugs.
• Pharmaceutical toxicology: Investigation of the toxic effects of potential new active pharmaceutical ingredients, of adverse drug reactions and of poisoning caused by drug overdose.
• Drug development: Work on the development of new drugs, including synthesis, testing and clinical trials.

Pharmacology plays a key role in medicine, enabling the development of effective drugs, the optimization of dosage, the prevention of side effects and the improvement of patients’ quality of life. This discipline is also important for the safety and efficacy of the drugs that are already on the market.

When interpreting during GMP inspections, it is important to use the correct pharmaceutical terminology. You can rely on our pharmaceutical interpreters to get everything right! Please contact us for a quote.