This paper deals with the interaction between technical regulations and social values in the pharmaceutical development. International regulation regarding medicines is analyzed departing from Tula Molina's distinction of material and social risk. First of all, I discuss the regulatory values of quality, safety and efficacy for medicines assessment. Secondly I focus on two subjects to illustrate the social risk associated with pharmaceuticals: the therapeutic value of innovations and the access to essential medicines. Finally, I propose that technical regulations should mention explicitly the social circumstances in which they will be implemented.
Technological risk; Technology Assessment; Technical regulation; Medicines; Pharmaceuticals; Philosophy of technology