Regulation of the Pharmaceutical Industry

How are pharmaceutical technologies developed and controlled in our societies? To what extent should the availability of these technologies be determined by scientific experts, a democratic state, the interests of final users, or ethical principles? This unique collection brings together the work of social scientists, ethicists, lawyers, and policy analysts on regulation, ethics and innovation in the pharmaceutical industry. Regulatory systems and their implications for public health in North America, Europe, and developing countries are discussed, including case studies of norplant, interferon, and anti-fertility vaccines.

John Abraham is Professor of Sociology and Co-Director, Centre for Research in Health and Medicine (CRHaM), Sussex University.

Helen Lawton Smith is Founder and Research Director, Oxfordshire Economic Observatory, School of Geography and the Environment, Oxford University.