Pharmacology and Toxicology

Drug Discovery and Drug Screening

The process through which drugs are found and/or developed in pharmacology, biotechnology, and medicine is known as drug discovery. The steps in the drug development process include the identification of candidates, synthesis, characterization, screening, and testing of therapeutic efficacy. In the past, drugs were discovered accidentally, like penicillin, or by extracting the active ingredient from therapies that were already in use. To check for the presence of chemicals and contaminants that drugs may have left in the body, drug testing involves collecting and analysing samples of blood, urine, hair, or saliva.