Industrial pharmacists work in companies in the Pharmaceutical industry and are involved in the manufacture (research, design, development and testing) and marketing of new medicines and treatments, ensuring they meet standards of quality and are safe for the public to use.
There are many different stages of the manufacturing process, and pharmacists are involved in most of them from initial design to the development of new drugs or drug delivery systems working closely with other industrial scientists and engineers to develop these new pharmaceuticals, as well as testing these products on animals or humans before they’re released to the public, as well as public launch and sales.
You'll be using the latest technologies, processes and methods to develop new medicines for patients.
Many pharmacists begin their industry careers in a lab-based role, however, pharmacists work in many non-lab roles such as medicines information, regulatory affairs, marketing and business development.
Other Pharmacy Careers
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My Responsibilities
- Maintaining drug inventories by ordering supplies from manufacturers, wholesalers, or other medical providers as needed
- Providing consultation services to physicians regarding new drugs and treatment protocols to ensure patient safety
- Providing information to patients regarding their prescriptions, including potential side effects and drug interactions
- Monitoring the use of controlled substances to prevent abuse or illegal use
- Conducting scientific research to develop new drugs or improve existing ones
- Explaining to patients how to take medications properly, including possible side effects and drug interactions
- Prescribing medications to patients who have not responded to other treatments
- Analyzing data from clinical trials and other studies to determine whether a drug should be approved for use by the FDA
- Recommending changes to the manufacturing process for drugs that fail to meet quality standards
Required Skills
Strong Analytical Skills: To become an industrial pharmacist, you must have excellent analytical skills. This is because you will be working with complex chemical compounds and drugs. You need to be able to interpret data, identify problems and come up with solutions. You will also be responsible for conducting experiments and analysing the results to develop new drugs and improve existing ones.
Attention to Detail: As an industrial pharmacist, you must have a keen eye for detail. You will be responsible for creating and testing drugs that will be used by people. This means that you must ensure that every drug is manufactured precisely, with the right amount of active ingredients and free from contamination. A small error could result in severe consequences for patients, so attention to detail is crucial.
Excellent Communication Skills: Industrial pharmacists work in teams, so excellent communication skills are necessary. You must be able to collaborate with other professionals, such as chemists, biologists, and engineers, to develop drugs. You may also be required to present your findings to management or regulatory agencies, so being able to communicate your research accurately and clearly is critical.
Strong Scientific Knowledge: You need to have a strong scientific background, particularly in chemistry, pharmacology, and biochemistry, to succeed as an industrial pharmacist. You will be working with chemical compounds and complex drugs, so you need to understand how they work and how they affect the human body. You will also need a good understanding of current regulations and standards to ensure your work complies with these standards.
Curiosity and Creativity: Finally, curiosity and creativity are essential skills to have as an industrial pharmacist. You will be working to develop new drugs and improve existing ones, so you should have a curious mind and be willing to experiment and take risks. You should also be creative and able to think outside the box to come up with innovative solutions to problems.
Qualifications
To qualify as a pharmacist, you must:
- complete a General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)-accredited Master’s degree in pharmacy (MPharm) which is full-time and four years in length
- complete a period of one-year paid pre-registration training in a GPhC-approved community pharmacy, under the supervision of a qualified pharmacist
If you don’t have the required qualifications to get a place on an accredited MPharm degree, you can take a pharmacy foundation degree – a two-year, full-time course that includes the content of year one of the MPharm degree plus work placements. This should provide you with the knowledge and experience to get a place on an MPharm degree directly into year two.
Training
Training to become a pharmacist involves:
- passing the GPhC registration assessment (you must build up a portfolio of evidence to show that you have the required skills and knowledge to work as a pharmacist)
- meeting the GPhC fitness to practise requirements for registration as a pharmacist.
You’ll then be eligible to apply for registration with the GPhC, which is essential to practise as a pharmacist in England, Wales and Scotland. Pharmacists who want to practise in Northern Ireland must register with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.
Many employers provide well-structured, intensive training programmes of varying lengths aiming to provide new entrants with a broad overview of the company and offering the chance to gain experience in various retailing areas. As well as pharmacy-related training, you’ll receive training in skills such as communication, problem-solving and decision-making.
Work Experience
Work Placement
One of the most important aspects of becoming an industrial pharmacist is getting hands-on experience. A work placement is a great way to learn about the industry while also building real-world experience. There are many work placement opportunities available in the UK, with pharmaceutical companies like GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca often offering work experience placements to students. Additionally, universities may also offer research projects that allow students to work in labs or gain experience in a pharmacy setting.
Internship
While work placements offer a glimpse into the world of industrial pharmacy, internships offer a more in-depth experience. An internship can provide students with the opportunity to work on projects, contribute to research, and develop new skills. Pharmaceutical companies regularly offer internships to students looking to build a career in the industry.
Further Education
Once you have gained some experience in the industry, further education can be a great way to develop your skills and knowledge. Many universities in the UK offer postgraduate courses in pharmaceutical sciences or industrial pharmacy. This can be a great way to specialise in a particular area of the industry and improve your employment prospects.
Working Hours
For starters, it’s essential to note that working hours for industrial pharmacists in the UK can vary depending on the setting, position, and company. However, most shifts tend to run in eight-hour slots and are either morning, afternoon, or night shifts. Therefore, you can expect to work a total of 40 hours a week, with some fluctuations based on the company's demands.
However, suppose you’re required to work multiple shifts or overtime per week. In that case, you can expect to experience fatigue, which may impact your job performance, and work-life balance negatively. Like any job, there is a level of stress in industrial pharmacy, and working for long hours may pile on that pressure.
Moreover, some industrial pharmacists may work on-call or be scheduled for weekend shifts. Such situations come up when there’s a deadline that needs to be met or an emergency that requires attention. However, it is essential to note that these conditions can help enhance your ability to work effectively under pressure and improve time management skills.
In addition to the work schedule, industrial pharmacists in the UK can expect a considerable amount of workload. Depending on the company size, the amount of work may differ. In general, the work can be intensive and fast-paced since companies adhere to strictly regulated guidelines. However, depending on your positions and roles, you can expect a balance of work.
Finally, it’s worth noting that some industrial pharmacists work in research and development, which can have a more flexible work schedule. This flexibility is due to the nature of the job being more exploratory than production-oriented. Companies that deal with clinical research may offer flexible hours to keep up with the demand for customised approaches and specialised work.
Salary
The industrial pharmacist sector within the UK is known for hiring pharmaceutical experts from different backgrounds, ranging from pharmacists, chemists, biologists, and more. As a result, your degree and area of expertise can be a major factor in determining your salary. However, on average, the typical starting salary for an industrial pharmacist in the UK is around £25,000 to £35,000 a year. Although this can vary depending on your location, job role, and experience.
As you become more experienced in the industry, the door to a more attractive salary typically opens up. After a few years of experience, an industrial pharmacist's salary can increase to around £40,000 to £60,000 a year, with senior positions often paying upwards of £80,000. Many companies will also offer benefits such as bonuses, health insurance, pension schemes, and other perks as incentives.
One thing to keep in mind is that the pharmaceutical industry is continually changing and evolving. This means that there is a constant demand for highly skilled and experienced individuals who are on top of the latest research and developments and willing to adapt. So, staying up-to-date with the latest trends, technologies, and techniques can have a significant impact on your salary.
Another important factor that can affect your salary as a pharmacist is the location of your job. Larger companies are more likely to pay higher salaries, but typically, those jobs are in urban areas such as London or other major cities. It's essential to research the location of your job and its surrounding environment to fully understand the cost of living to determine if the salary you are offered is sufficient.
Nevertheless, one thing that is for sure is that the salary of an industrial pharmacist in the UK is relatively impressive. It is highly rewarding, both financially and career-wise, for students who have invested time and effort in their degrees and continued their professional development over the years.
Professional Development
After gaining a few years of experience as a practising pharmacist, you can pursue specialist certifications to demonstrate your skills in a particular niche of the industry.
On-the-Job Training: Professional development isn’t just limited to formal education and certifications. As a pharmacist, you’ll need to stay up-to-date on new drugs, technologies, and regulatory changes affecting the industry. Working for a drug manufacturer or other industrial pharmacy organisations will give you a wealth of on-the-job training opportunities. You’ll learn about quality control, manufacturing practices, and research and development.
Networking and Conferences: Attending conferences and industry events is another critical aspect of professional development. By networking with other professionals in your field, you can learn about new job opportunities, get advice on running your own pharmacy, and stay up-to-date on the latest trends and research. Conferences and workshops also give you the opportunity to earn continuing education credits to satisfy your license renewal requirements.
Ethics and Professionalism: Ethics and professionalism are crucial in the field of industrial pharmacy. As part of your professional development, you’ll need to learn about ethical decision-making models and how to promote ethical behaviour in your workplace. The GPhC has a specific code of conduct that industrial pharmacists must adhere to, and you’ll need to stay up-to-date on any changes to these regulations.
Career Progression
Industrial pharmacy can lead to managerial as well as other positions that are not traditionally associated with pharmacy.
A role which involves many different skills is that of a Qualified Person or QP. QPs are responsible for releasing a product for supply to the market and confirming that it has been made and tested to the required quality standards in line with the registered methods and processes. Roles in quality assurance can involve overseas travel to either other locations in your own company or to the sites of suppliers.
Contacts
The following organisations may be able to help provide you with further information:
GENERAL PHARMACEUTICAL COUNCIL (GPHC)
Telephone: 0203 713 8000
E-mail: info@pharmacyregulation.org
Website: http://www.pharmacyregulation.org
Twitter: @TheGPhC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGPhC
NATIONAL PHARMACY ASSOCIATION (NPA)
Telephone: 01727 858687
E-mail: npa@npa.co.uk
Website: http://www.npa.co.uk/
Twitter: @NPA1921
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Supportyourlocalpharmacy/
ROYAL PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY SCOTLAND
Telephone: 0845 257 2570
E-mail: scotinfo@rpharms.com
Website: http://www.rpharms.com
Twitter: @rpharms
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/royalpharmsoc/
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