pharma

[fahr-muh]

noun

1. a pharmaceutical company or pharmaceutical companies considered collectively.

   He works for pharma.

2. Usually pharmaceutical companies considered collectively, especially with reference to their political and commercial influence.

   Pharma is expanding into China, hoping to replace local remedies with manufactured drugs.

adjective

1. of or relating to pharmaceutical companies or the pharmaceutical industry.

   Pharma reps don't sell directly to doctors.

pharma

/ ˈfɑːmə /

noun

1. pharmaceutical companies when considered together as an industry

Word History and Origins

Origin of pharma¹

First recorded in 1990–95; short for pharmaceutical

Example Sentences

Biotech and pharma stocks soared following the rollout of the Pfizer agreement two weeks ago.

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There is an opportunity for America to rebuild and invest in its ability to manufacture lifesaving pharma ingredients and avoid supply-chain challenges and the risk of shortages of essential drugs.

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That kind of rebound matters: When pharma companies’ stocks rise, so does their appetite for acquisitions, which is the lifeblood of biotech.

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With pharma companies desperate to fill up uninspiring drug pipelines, there has been no lack of deals in recent weeks, including a $4.9 billion obesity acquisition by Pfizer in late September.

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Pfizer’s deal brings clarity in terms of tariff and drug pricing and similar moves from large pharma peers could follow, analysts at Berenberg said in a separate note.

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