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The characterisation of new psychoactive drugs which were identified in the last years in continuously increasing numbers is a challenge for different academic institutions. This paper gives an overview on new psychoactive drugs in regard of their chemistry, pharmacology, metabolism, analytics and legal aspects in Germany.

If globally active pharmaceutical companies are to remain competitive, it is essential for them to be able to conduct research and development on an appropriate scale. Generally, their respective domestic market forms their base. For that reason, conditions there should be research-and innovation-friendly. In addition, pharmaceutical research calls for very long-term investment decisions. Companies that become involved in this interaction of profit and loss differ fundamentally from state or public organizations. The ensuing conflict of interest has become increasingly evident in Germany since the end of the 70s. The regulatory environment surrounding the market has changed in all fields, be they fiscal, sociopolitical or in pharmaceutical legislation, into a confusing and incoherent body of regulations. Moreover, part of society is undecided about its attitude towards pharmaceutical progress and the introduction of new technologies. In view of these developments it is high time to change course and help ensure that one of the few remaining competitive sectors in Germany-and one with a promising future-stays in the country.

The possibility for GDR application for a patent of monoclonal antibodies are discussed in detail. Antibodies can be used advantageously as diagnostica. Basic suppositions for true patents in this field e.g. sufficient manifestation of the invention, newness and ingenious performance are referred. Possible algorithms for the formulation of the claims are given.

Self-medication is determined by social policy decisions and controlled by the drug law in order to ensure a justifiable proportion of risk and benefit for the application of drugs licensed for self-medication. Special emphasis is put on the situation and the self-medication market in the GDR.

The situation in the region of Aix la Chapelle with its borders towards The Netherlands and Belgium has presented us with increasing problems in drug and narcotic delinquency during recent years. Because of the revised law on narcotic drugs in 1982 and recent decisions by the German Federal Supreme Court, forensic toxicologists are expected not only to define drugs qualitatively as well as quantitatively, but also to provide expertise on problems of effective doses, pharmacokinetics, toxicity and tolerance development with various narcotic drugs. Based on our own experience in this special forensic field, as well as on the data compiled by investigation authorities, our analytical findings are presented with regard to toxicological interpretation and the legal consequences.