About AHFS

The mission of AHFS Drug Information® (AHFS DI®) is to provide an evidence-based foundation for safe and effective drug therapy. Widely trusted for its established record in refuting unfounded efficacy claims, its rigorous science-based editorial process, and its independence from the influence of pharmaceutical manufacturers, AHFS DI® has remained true to its mission for 50 years. This notable achievement of 5 decades of evidence-based medical publishing has gained AHFS DI® the unique distinction of being the longest published federally designated drug compendium issued by a scientific and professional society. As such, AHFS DI®  maintains a unique role in establishing medically accepted uses of drugs, both labeled and off-label.

First published in 1959, the Formulary Service™ has evolved to address increasingly complex issues related to drug therapy and formulary management. AHFS DI® is a collection of drug monographs kept current by ongoing electronic updates (e.g., AHFSfirstReleases™, MedWatch notices, http://www.ahfsdruginformation.com) and by a revised master print volume issued each year. The AHFS DI®  database is maintained continuously throughout the year for the purpose of disseminating comprehensive, evaluative drug information to the entire medical and paramedical community, and updates are issued frequently on an ongoing basis in electronic formats.

AHFS™ was first published in 1959 as an adaptation from the Hospital Formulary of Selected Drugs by Don E. Francke. AHFS™ had its roots in the hospital formulary system, which was intended to establish a sound therapeutic and economic basis for drug policy. Originally, the Formulary Service™ was conducted through the Committee of Pharmacy and Pharmaceuticals of the American Society of Hospital (now Health-System) Pharmacists to assist the pharmacy and therapeutics committee of each hospital in preparing its hospital formulary. Since then, AHFS DI® has developed beyond its original purpose to become the most comprehensive, authoritative source of evaluative, evidence-based drug information available. Paramount to providing such information is the critical, evidence-based evaluation of pertinent clinical data concerning drugs, with a focus on assessing thoroughly the advantages and disadvantages of various therapies, including interpretation of various claims of drug efficacy.