Clinical Pharmacology & Biopharmaceutics
Open Access

Abstract

Social Pharmacology studies the marketed drug in its real ?habitat?, in a pluralistic society with a multidisciplinary structure. It is dedicated to the evaluation of the social consequences of an individual?s exposure to a marketed drug and the factors related to drug utilization within broad scientific horizons. The post-marketing period represents the opportunity to study medications in their current ?life cycle? in individuals and society, from the public health point of view, as well using factors related to the pharmaceutical industry and regulators. So, it represents going beyond the ?tip of the iceberg? of information available to obtain essential data for any marketed drug, based on the heterogeneous expertise of different health professionals, who directly or indirectly participate in health care and public health, either by providing a service or improving drug therapy (prescription, dispensation, information, communication, education, problem-solving). The list of methodological approaches in Social Pharmacology is extensive (pharmacoepidemiological studies in drug surveillance, experimental and observational studies (?naturalistic?), drug response variation, outcome research, pharmacoeconomic studies, drug-toxicity evaluation, drug regulation evaluation, drug information evaluation, etc.). The broad range of interactions among the many vectors linked to the use and benefits of marketed drugs gives this discipline huge potential in drawing conclusions about risk-benefit factors, providing alert responses, proposing actions for decision-making processes, minimizing negative drug impacts, as well as promoting the proper and efficient use of drugs. Therefore ?Social Pharmacology? is not limited to the so-called ?Phase IV? alone and its contributions to other disciplines are far-reaching.

Biography

Jose-Luis Alloza M.D., Ph.D. was Fellow in the Clinical Pharmacology Program of Louis Lasagna, M.D., Sc. D. at Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, New York (1980-82). In 1995 he became a tenured professor in the Department of Pharmacology, University of Alcala. Director of the Alcala Clinical Pharmacology Project for Drug Research and Development and Head of the Social Pharmacology Group. Dr. Alloza has written more than 300 peer-reviewed publications, numerous book chapters and monographs. He also edited several books, including the pioneering Clinical and Social Pharmacology: Postmarketing Period (Editio Cantor, Aulendorf, Germany). He served as adjunct physician, Valle Hebron Hospital, Barcelona, as well as 13-plus years in the pharmaceutical industry (Spain, Switzerland).