What main process does drug formulation development involve?

Drug formulation development primarily focuses on the science and engineering of designing and producing a medication that is effective, safe, and stable for patient use. This involves selecting appropriate manufacturing processes to ensure that the drug can be reliably produced at scale, as well as conducting stability testing to determine how the formulation holds up over time under various conditions. This phase ensures that not only does the drug work as intended, but it also maintains its efficacy and safety throughout its shelf life.

The other options, while related to the broader pharmaceutical development process, do not capture the essence of drug formulation development. Conducting clinical trials is certainly important but occurs later in the process, after initial formulations have been developed. Formulating a marketing strategy and assessing financial implications, although critical for the overall success of a drug, focus on commercial aspects rather than the scientific and technical processes involved in developing the actual drug formulation.