From Molecules to Medicine: A Primer on the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

The pharmaceutical supply chain is a complex, global network that moves medicines from raw ingredient suppliers to manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, distributors, pharmacies, healthcare providers, and ultimately patients. This primer explains the role each stakeholder plays and highlights how international manufacturing and distribution networks influence the availability and cost of prescription drugs. 

Understanding the supply chain is essential for making sense of major policy debates, including drug shortages, supply chain resilience, tariffs, and efforts to expand domestic manufacturing. Download the full brief to explore the key players, market dynamics, and policy challenges shaping how prescription drugs reach patients in the United States.