Pharmacovigilance in perspective: Drug withdrawals, data mining and policy implications

Considering that marketed drugs are not free from side effects, many countries have initiated pharmacovigilance programs. These initiatives have provided countries with methods of detection and prevention of adverse drug reactions at an earlier stage, thus preventing harm occurring in the larger population. In this review, examples of drug withdrawals due to effective pharmacovigilance programs have been provided with details. In addition, information concerning data mining in pharmacovigilance, an effective method to assess pharmacoepidemiologic data and detecting signals for rare and uncommon side effects, is also examined, which is a method synchronized with information technology and advanced electronic tools. The importance of policy framework in relation to pharmacovigilance is discussed in detail, and country experiences upon implementation of pharmacovigilance policies is highlighted.