The pharmaceutical industry operates in a highly regulated environment. The laws and regulations for the testing, patenting and marketing of drugs are stringent and pharmaceutical groups must conduct thorough pre-clinical research and clinical trials. In pre-clinical studies, it is essential to characterize the physicochemical properties of candidate drugs, such as stability and solubility. Further examinations deal with the suitability of compounds in capsules, tablets, aerosols and other kinds of galenic formulations.