Pharma Industry Acronyms
If you are new to an industry, the terminology and acronyms can be very confusing! So here is a short list of some of the key ones.
| AABB | American Association of Blood Banks |
| AACP | American College of Clinical Pharmacology |
| AADA | Abbreviated Antibiotic Drug Application |
| AAMC | Association of American Medical Colleges |
| AAPP | American Academy of Pharmaceutical Physicians |
| AAPS | American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists |
| ABP | Association Pharmaceutique Belge |
| ABPI | Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry www.abpi.org.uk |
| ACE | adverse clinical event |
| ACPU | Association of Clinical Pharmacology Units |
| ACRP | Association of Clinical Research Professionals, formerly Associates in Clinical Pharmacology |
| ACT | Applied Clinical Trials magazine |
| AD |
|
| ADME | absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (pharmacokinetic processes) |
| ADR | adverse drug reaction |
| AE | adverse event |
| AERS | Adverse Event Reporting System |
| AFMR | American Federation for Medical Research |
| AICRC | Association of Independent Clinical Research Contractors |
| AMA | American Medical Association |
| ANDA | Abbreviated New Drug Application |
| ANDA | Abbreviated New Drug Application |
| APhA | American Pharmaceutical Association |
| API | active pharmaceutical ingredient |
| ARO | academic research organization |
| ASCPT | American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics |
| BARQA | British Association of Research Quality Assurance |
| BCE | beneficial clinical event |
| BDPA | Bureau of Drug Policy and Administration (China) |
| BIO | Biotechnology Industry Organization |
| BIRA | British Institute of Regulatory Affairs |
| BrAPP | British Association of Pharmaceutical Physicians |
| CAPRA | Canadian Association of Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs |
| CDM | clinical data management |
| CMC | Chemistry, Manufacturing & Controls |
| CME | continuing medical education |
| CNS | central nervous system |
| CNS | Central Nervous System |
| COPD | chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
| CPM | Clinical Project Manager |
| CPMP | Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products |
| CRA | Clinical Research Associate |
| CRF | Case Report Form |
| CRO | contract research organization |
| CRO | Clinical Research Organisation |
| CSM | Committee on Safety of Medicines |
| CTA | Clinical Trials Assistant |
| CTC | Clinical Trial Certificate |
| CTL | Clinical Team Leader |
| CTM | Clinical Trial Manager |
| CTX | Clinical Trial Certificate of Exemption |
| DBDD | Double Blind Double Dummy |
| EMEA | Europe Middle East and Africa |
| FCPA | Foreign Corrupt Practices Act |
| FDA | Food and Drug Administration |
| GCP | Good Clinical Practice |
| GI | Gastro Intestinal |
| GMP | Good Manufacturing Practice |
| HLM | Healthcare Liaison Manager |
| IDB | Investigators’ Drug Brochure |
| IREC | Independent Research Ethics Committee |
| KAM | Key Account Manager |
| MAA | Marketing Authorisation Approval |
| MHRA | Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency |
| MREC | Main Research Ethics Committee |
| NCE | New Chemical Entity |
| NICE | National Institute of Clinical Excellence |
| P | Pharmacy Only Medicine |
| PIL | Patient Information Leaflet |
| PMS | Post Marketing Surveillance |
| POM | Prescription Only Medicine |
| PPRS | Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme |
| PR | Public Relations |
| QA | Quality Assurance |
| QC | Quality Control |
| R&D | Research and Development |
| SAE | Serious Adverse Event |
| SAMM | Safety Assessment of Marketed Medicines |
| SCRA | Senior Clinical Research Associate |
| SDV | Source Data Verification |
| SOP | Standard Operating Procedure |