Pharmaclub

B pharmacy job selection process

The job selection process of pharmaceutical companies varies from company to company. Depend upon the company, you may appear for the B Pharmacy interview with or without writing a qualifying exam. Usually the reputed pharmaceutical companies conduct a qualifying exam before selecting for interview. This qualifying exam will helps them to assure that the job aspirant is having minimum basic knowledge about the subject. As well as it helps to reduce the number of candidates appearing for interview.

For eg: 20 positions(Jobs) are available. But 300 candidates came to the interview location. Exam conducted for all the candidates; then top 60 or top 80 graduates selected for the interview based on the marks. Now the Job selection process is based on 1:3 or 1:4 ratio. Out of 3 or 4 candidates they offer job for one candidate.

Here we have given a model B Pharmacy interview exam paper for candidates who are looking for a b pharmacy fresher’s jobs in the pharmaceutical production plant and R&D. This exam contains only multiple choice questions or descriptive type questions or combinations of both.

Answer all the questions (Each correct answer carries 2 marks)

Write the chemical names?
- a. Vitamin B6
- b. Vitamin B12
Write any two lubricants, which are used in tablets manufacturing?
Write the abbreviations of IP and BP?
What is friability test and how to calculate it?
What are the steps involved in wet granulation process?
Define API and explain it?
Write any two types of formulations and explain it?
Name any two sources of Vitamin C? Write any disease caused by vitamin c deficiency?
What is oxymel?
Expand the UHPLC, TLC, LVP and SVP?

Answers:

a) Vitamin B6- Pyridoxine
b) Vitamin B12 – Cyanocobalamin

2) Commonly used lubricants are Talc, silica, Stearic acid and Magnesium stearate etc

3) IP full form Indian Pharmacopoeia

BP full form British Pharmacopoeia

4) Friability test is conducted to know the physical strength of a tablet. It is the withstanding capacity of a tablet when it is on manufacturing and transportation.

It is calculated by using this formula

Friability =(Initial weight- Final weight)/Initial weight * 100

Initial weight in mg- before test

Final weight in mg- after completion of test

5) Following steps involved in the wet granulation process

Mixing
Drying
Dry screening
Fluid bed granulation

6) API is known as Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient. First and most important component of any formulation. There is no finished dose formulation is available without having an API.

7) Various types of formulations are available

Topical formulations:

This type of formulations are administered by local route, applied on the skin. The active ingredient in formulation does not enter into the systemic circulation.

e.g Topical creams

Parenteral formulations:

These formulations are administered by the parenteral route that in to blood. The ingredients in the formulation is directly enter in the blood. Bioavailability is high for this formulations.

ex: Intravenous Injections

8) Oranges, Lemons and Tomotos are sources for vitamin C. Severe deficiency of vitamin C causes “scurvy” disease.

9) Oxymel is a mixture of honey , water and vinegar.

10) UHPLC is known as Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography.

LVP is known as Large Volume Parenteral

SVP is known as Small Volume Parenteral

You can visit continuation of this questions and answers here.

Clinical trials all about conducting clinical research about new drug or device in humans. Every objective of the each phase of clinical trial is different from each other. Before getting into the clinical research in the humans, a lot of laboratory research already completed from the previous time that is preclinical research involving animals.

It is a complete step by step process like a constructing a building by using bricks and cement. Here bricks and cement are scientifically generated proofs. All procedures conducted according to the guidelines and accepted methods with prior approvals. Produces scientifically accepted proof to proceed for further research.

Clinical trials are divided into four phases. Four phases are as follows.

Phase I :

This is the first phase of human clinical trials. Some times Phase 0 (micro dosing) studies are also considered as first phase in human trails. Phase 0 trials not mandatory for all kinds of studies. But it helps to take the decision to proceed for further trials or not.

Usually phase I trials conducted in healthy population except for few diseases like HIV and cancer. It assess the new drug safety. 20-100 healthy volunteers tested for few months in this phase. Drug Pharmacokinetics tested here like how the drug affecting the body by knowing absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion. Along with pharmacokinetics, it finds what are the side effects of the drug if dose level increased. Usually Seventy percentage of molecules can successfully complete this phase.

Phase II:

This is the second phase of human clinical trials. It studies the drug efficacy. From this phase testing will be done on patients. Usually hundreds of patients tested for few months to two years in this phase. Number of patients used in this phase depends upon required statistical sample size calculation. Experimental drug efficacy compared with either standard drug or placebo. Relative experimental drug safety and efficacy compared by using double blind study designs. After entering drugs into the phase II, 30-40% molecules can successfully complete this phase.

Phase III:

It studies the effectiveness of a drug. It is a very large scale testing involves several thousands of patients tested for up to several years. Thorough information of a drug observed here including adverse effects from various study designs and testing procedures. Once this phase successfully completed, research company can request for the regulatory authorities for drug marketing approval After entering the drug into phase III, 50-60% molecules can successfully complete this phase.

Phase IV:

This phase starts after drug approval for sale. This phase includes post marketing surveillance trails. Different types of findings observed about a drug in this phase like rare adverse reactions, drug interactions, long term safety, effectiveness and effect on patients quality of life, cost effectiveness with other therapies. Depend upon these findings, the regulatory authorities may recall or restrict the use or continues the drug in the market.

For example: Vioxx (Rofecoxib) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug manufactured from Merck limited for pain relief. It was in the market for about 5.3 years. Due to findings in Phase IV like increased risk for heart attack and stroke, It was recalled from the market by FDA in 2004.

Zelnorm (Tegaserod maleate), a Novartis product indicated for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation in women younger than 55. Zolnorm also in the market for about 4.6 years in the market. Recalled by FDA in 2007 with a similar findings in Phase IV trials.