pharma

American  

[fahr-muh] / ˈfɑr mə /

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.

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adjective

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

   Pharma reps don't sell directly to doctors.

pharma British  

/ ˈfɑːmə /

noun

1. pharmaceutical companies when considered together as an industry

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Etymology

Origin of pharma

First recorded in 1990–95; short for pharmaceutical

Example Sentences

Biotech and pharma companies have been scrambling to integrate AI into their businesses as developers like OpenAI and Anthropic launch healthcare tools.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

Bristol Myers and Pfizer, the buyers behind two of those large acquisitions, have both underperformed the broader pharma industry and continue to grapple with revenue pressures.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

In short, J&J “boasts the key qualities we seek in pharma stocks,” TD Cowen analysts wrote on Wednesday, as the firm maintained a Buy rating and $250 price target on the shares.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

But like the pharma industry, companies in other sectors are striking deals with the administration or taking steps to insulate themselves from tariff costs.

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

The tariff should be seen as a warning for more intense competition between the U.S. and China’s biotech and pharma sectors, he says, noting that China has developed into a biopharma innovation hub.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026