Final answer:
Pharmacy technicians may assist with pre-packaging drug products under the supervision of a pharmacist, fulfilling more routine tasks within a pharmacy. Pharmaceutical chemists, however, focus on developing and testing new medications in a laboratory setting and are not typically involved in dispensing or pre-packaging of medications.
Step-by-step explanation:
Within a pharmacy, the role of a technician or technician trainee is to support pharmacists in the dispensation and management of medications. While pharmacists must hold a doctorate in pharmacy, are state-licensed, and take part in advising patients and physicians about medication use, technicians may assist with more routine tasks under the supervision of a pharmacist. In some jurisdictions, pharmacy technicians can pre-package drug products, ensuring that they are correctly labeled and prepared for dispensing. They are often involved in inventory management, including the re-packaging of medication into unit-doses for hospital or retail use. However, pharmaceutical chemists are professionals who primarily focus on the development and testing of new drugs, working in laboratories rather than pharmacies.
The process of drug development is complex and multi-faceted. After the initial discovery or synthesis of a drug, a pharmaceutical chemist works on developing and testing the drug to ensure it is safe and effective. This may involve chemically altering the drug, determining its toxicology, and designing methods for large-scale production. Moreover, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) governs the drug approval process, requiring a series of experiments and clinical trials to prove the safety and efficacy of the medication.