Pharmaceutical industry
![Gleevec, a drug used in the treatment of several cancers, is marketed by Novartis, one of the world's major pharmaceutical companies.](/Images/godic/202502/02/Glivec_400mg0030.jpg")
![Diethylbarbituric acid was the first marketed barbiturate. It was sold by Bayer under the trade name Veronal](/Images/godic/202502/02/Veronal0030.jpg")
![In 1937 over 100 people died after ingesting a solution of the antibacterial sulfanilamide formulated in the toxic solvent diethylene glycol](/Images/godic/202502/02/Elixir_Sulfanilamide0030.jpg")
![Measles cases reported in the United States before and after introduction of the vaccine.](/Images/godic/202502/02/Measles_US_1944-2007_inset0030.png")
The pharmaceutical industry develops, produces, and markets drugs or pharmaceuticals for use as medications. Pharmaceutical companies may deal in generic or brand medications and medical devices. They are subject to a variety of laws and regulations that govern the patenting, testing, safety, efficacy and marketing of drugs.