Pharmaceutical scientists are at the forefront of medical innovation, playing a pivotal role in the development of new therapies that improve patient health. As David Janero, Teaching Professor and Director of Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Programs at Northeastern’s Bouvé College of Health Sciences explains, the field offers a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact.
“I went into this field because of its ability to apply basic scientific knowledge to help mankind in terms of increasing the quality and the quantity of therapeutics,” Janero says.
But what does a pharmaceutical scientist do, and why is their work so critical to modern healthcare?
What Is a Pharmaceutical Scientist?
A pharmaceutical scientist researches, designs, and develops new drugs and therapies to improve patient health. Their primary focus is understanding how drugs interact with the body to ensure they are safe, effective, and ready for widespread production.
Pharmaceutical scientists address unmet medical needs by applying their scientific expertise to the creation of new treatments, which requires a wide array of technical skills. According to our analysis of job postings data, the top specialized skills pharmaceutical scientists should have are:
- Pharmaceutical sciences
- Pharmaceuticals
- Chemistry
- Biopharmaceuticals
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- New drug development
- Small molecules
- Manufacturing practices
If you’re interested in this exciting career path, here’s an overview of the six key responsibilities of a pharmaceutical scientist.
What Do Pharmaceutical Scientists Do?
1. Discovers and Designs Drugs
One of the primary responsibilities of pharmaceutical scientists is discovering and designing new drug compounds through rigorous research. This work is dynamic and ever-evolving, as scientists strive to push the boundaries of medical knowledge and address unmet medical needs.
“Pharmaceutical scientists should love the challenge of research and development,” Janero explains. “Drug research and development in particular because it deals with the unknown in discovery of new knowledge and its application to more, and better, therapeutics.”
The discovery process involves several key steps, including:
- Identifying potential therapeutic targets
- Synthesizing and profiling pharmacologically new compounds
- Evaluating their effectiveness in treating specific diseases
After discovery, the goal is to maximize therapeutic effects while minimizing side effects. This stage is iterative, involving multiple rounds of testing, optimization, and refinement before a promising drug candidate can move forward in the development pipeline.
2. Formulates Drugs
Pharmaceutical scientists also play a crucial role in developing safe and effective drug formulations for various delivery methods, such as tablets, injections, or other administration forms. The goal is to ensure a drug reaches the targeted area in the body at the right concentration to minimize side effects.
The challenge of drug formulation is heightened by the need to understand the complexities of different diseases. For instance, Alzheimer’s disease has faced significant hurdles in drug development.
“For years, the entire Alzheimer’s field has spent billions of dollars, if not trillions, with only a few drugs approved,” Janero explains. This is often because it’s difficult to meet key research targets, which impacts funding and progress. As a result, many pharmaceutical companies have shifted focus to areas with more success, such as oncology.
“If you look at the therapeutic area that many companies are now focused on, it’s oncology,” Janero adds. “This field offers more accessible targets to test drug effectiveness, which stakeholders care about.”
In essence, drug formulation isn’t just about creating new products but overcoming scientific challenges and making strategic decisions based on the most promising opportunities.
3. Studies Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
Pharmaceutical scientists are also responsible for studying pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics—key aspects of how drugs behave within the body. By closely examining these processes, scientists optimize drug delivery to maximize therapeutic benefits while minimizing potential side effects.
“Studying how drugs interact with the body—absorption, metabolism, distribution, and excretion—is essential to understand their therapeutic potential and minimize adverse effects,” Janero says.
The insights gained from pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies often guide the decision-making throughout the drug development process. They help scientists predict how a drug will perform in humans based on preclinical data, informing adjustments to dosage forms, schedules, and delivery methods.
As a result, this research is crucial for optimizing the effectiveness of new drugs and ensuring they meet the necessary safety standards before progressing to clinical trials.
4. Tests Drugs in Preclinical and Clinical Trials
Before a drug can reach the market, it must undergo rigorous testing in both preclinical and clinical trials to ensure its safety and efficacy. Pharmaceutical scientists are crucial to this process, conducting or overseeing studies that evaluate a drug’s effects before it’s tested in humans.
In the preclinical phase, this often involves using models—typically cell-based systems and animal models—that simulate human disease conditions to predict how a drug will behave in the human body.
“Pharmaceutical scientists are essential to this part of the drug development process,” Janero assures. “We need scientists to utilize, challenge and evaluate these models to ensure the reliability and reproducibility of the results.”
Pharmaceutical scientists must carefully select and critically assess these models to ensure that the preclinical findings are relevant to human disease conditions. This involves not only evaluating the drug’s effectiveness in these models but also monitoring for potential side effects and toxicities. By refining these models, pharmaceutical scientists aim to minimize risks and improve the predictive power of preclinical studies before moving on to clinical trials involving human participants.
5. Ensures Regulatory Compliance for New Treatments
Pharmaceutical scientists play a vital role in ensuring that new drug treatments comply with regulatory standards before reaching the market. This involves preparing detailed documentation for regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency.
Ensuring regulatory compliance is a complex and essential part of both preclinical and clinical trials. While the preclinical phase often focuses on the models generated before the clinical trials, the actual trials hones in on addressing factors that could impact drug efficacy and safety in the patient. Some of these concerns may relate to:
- Clinical-trial design and conduct
- Participant data accuracy
Any clinical-trial breach can be particularly unethical because it may lead to biased results and expose participants to harm. However, by rigorously preparing for regulatory compliance, pharmaceutical scientists help ensure that new treatments meet legal requirements, adhere to the highest ethical standards, and facilitate the safe and effective use of new therapies worldwide.
6. Supports Business Goals
Pharmaceutical scientists also contribute to their company’s business goals. They often collaborate with departments like marketing, sales, and legal, effectively communicating scientific findings to support the company’s mission of bringing new therapies to market.
“Understanding not only the science behind drug development but also the business aspects of the field is essential to effectively meeting the challenges of modern drug discovery and development,” Janero adds. “In today’s drug discovery, pharmaceutical scientists need strong communication skills and an entrepreneurial mindset to navigate the complexities of drug development.”
In fact, according to our analysis of job postings data, the most prominent desirable skills listed by employers in the field include:
- Research
- Leadership
- Communication
- Presentations
- Management
- Innovation
- Writing
- Problem solving
- Operations
- Teaching
Is Becoming a Pharmaceutical Scientist Worth It?
Becoming a pharmaceutical scientist offers both intellectual fulfillment and financial reward.
As a driving force in advancing modern medicine, pharmaceutical scientists contribute to the discovery and development of life-saving treatments. This essential role is reflected in their compensation, with the median annual salary for pharmaceutical scientists at $116,500, according to our analysis of job postings data. This strong earning potential makes it a financially rewarding career path for those with the necessary expertise.
In addition to competitive salaries, pharmaceutical scientists are in high demand. According to the same job postings data, the top states hiring pharmaceutical scientists are:
- New York
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- California
- Pennsylvania
These areas are home to a rich combination of international pharmaceutical companies, prestigious universities, and leading medical institutions, making them ideal hubs for professionals in drug discovery and development.
“There are many world-class international biotech and pharmaceutical companies and institutions as well as smaller ‘start-ups’ that are well entrenched in these areas,” Janero says.
And while the cost of living may be higher in some of these states, the professional opportunities, world-class healthcare systems, and the overall quality of life make them attractive destinations for pharmaceutical scientists. The concentration of pharmaceutical and biotech companies, particularly in the Boston and West Coast regions, also solidifies these areas as global centers for healthcare innovation, providing ample opportunities for career growth and advancement.
Take the First Toward Becoming a Pharmaceutical Scientist
A career as a pharmaceutical scientist offers the unique opportunity to make a tangible impact on healthcare by developing life-saving treatments.
If you’re considering pursuing this career, earning a master’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences can provide the specialized knowledge and skills needed to succeed. Northeastern’s Bouvé College of Health Sciences offers comprehensive graduate programs designed to equip students with both scientific expertise and business acumen, ensuring they’re prepared for the complexities of drug discovery and development.
With its strong connections to leading pharmaceutical companies and access to the thriving Boston biotech ecosystem, Northeastern is an ideal place to take the first step toward a rewarding career in pharmaceutical science. Start your journey at Northeastern today and position yourself at the forefront of medical innovation.
