Preclinical research
Before the first volunteer is involved, the substance is studied in the lab to see whether it is worth going further at all.
Topics
Topics
The reference is organised by stages of a medicine's journey, not by disease. First the lab and clinical trials, then the government's registration decision, then the factory, the warehouse and the pharmacy. A separate block covers how patients can avoid sellers who fake that journey.
Each stage answers its own question: does the medicine work, is it safe, was it made and stored correctly. Skip any of them and that question goes unanswered.
How this section works: a topic belongs here if it explains how a medicine travels to the patient and can be covered without naming products, dosing regimens or medical advice. Anything about specific treatment we leave to the doctor.
How a medicine comes about
The road from idea to registration is long, and each step has its own job.
Registration and registers
A government allows a medicine onto the market only after reviewing its documents and trial results.
What the GRLS is
Russia's State Register of Medicines (GRLS) is kept by the Ministry of Health; it shows whether a medicine is registered in Russia. Other countries keep their own registers.
Leaflet and packaging
What information usually appears on the package and in the leaflet, and why it is worth reading together with your doctor's prescription.
Who oversees the market
In Russia, Roszdravnadzor oversees the circulation of medicines and the work of pharmacies; its registers are open to everyone.
Originator and generic
One active substance can be made by different companies under different brand names.
How they are alike
A generic contains the same active substance as the originator medicine.
What confirms equivalence
A generic's equivalence to the originator is checked in bioequivalence studies.
Who decides on a switch
Do not swap one medicine for another on a friend's advice; that is a question for your doctor.
Buying safely
The last stretch of the journey — from warehouse to patient — is the one most often faked.
A legitimate pharmacy
In Russia, only pharmacies with a licence and the corresponding permit may sell medicines at a distance.
Fakes and falsified products
WHO warns about the spread of falsified products, especially through unverified online sources.
"Breakthrough" news
How not to let a loud headline about a new medicine send you looking for it from a random seller.
Article catalogue for English-speaking readers
This is where standalone articles written for English-language readers will appear: explainers on the stages of drug development, how to approach your country's official medicines information, and practical guides to buying medicines safely.
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How to find reliable WARDOGS news, guides and game resources: which sources to trust, how to spot fakes and outdated tips, and how to protect your account.
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Comparing ways to learn ARC Raiders: official patch notes, in-game logs, guides and community spaces, with a checklist and fact-check prompts for updates.
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A beginner-friendly look at Aion 2 PvP: factions, the Abyss, arenas and realm battles, how flight shapes fights, and how to keep your account safe.
- GTA 6 Heists and Mission Planning: Editorial Overview
An editorial look at GTA 6 heists: what earlier GTA games did with planning and crews, what Rockstar has confirmed, and how to read unverified claims.
What the editors are preparing
- How to find official information about a medicine from your national regulator
- Why developing a new medicine takes years
- What informed consent means for a clinical trial participant
- How to spot a suspicious online pharmacy before you order
Editorial rules
- Articles in this catalogue are written separately for each language version and are not translations.
- Some articles link to third-party websites, including gaming services; we do not control their content, prices or terms.
- We do not publish advertising for medicines, pharmacies or manufacturers, medicine names, prices or reviews.
Related sections
- How it works
How development, registration and oversight, manufacturing and storage of medicines work — without names or regimens.
- Safety
How to avoid fakes: checking a pharmacy, warning signs and habits that protect you from falsified medicines.
- Research
How to read news about a "new drug" and about clinical trials without mistaking a headline for a conclusion.
Sources
- State Register of Medicines (Ministry of Health of Russia)
- Roszdravnadzor (Russian federal health-care watchdog)
- WHO — substandard and falsified medical products
Information is current as of the preparation date. Rules for registering medicines and selling them at a distance change from time to time, so check the official registers — in Russia, those of the Ministry of Health and Roszdravnadzor; elsewhere, your national medicines regulator — and ask a doctor or pharmacist about treatment.