[Drug safety: activities of the manufacturer].

Many activities of the pharmaceutical manufacturers concern drug safety to that any comprehensive description appears rather difficult. Special attention has however been given to the following four areas: The Research Department is engaged in developing novel and still safer medicines, while the Drug Monitoring unit specializes in early recognition of yet unknown and possibly harmful effects of already marketed drugs; the Product Information orientates on the risk and benefit, and finally the Quality Control ensures that the consumer is provided with high-quality products. However, despite all these measures an absolute drug safety cannot be achieved since a given risk is inherent in every drug therapy.