A pharmaceutical company, or drug company, is a commercial business licensed to research, develop, market and/or distribute drugs, most commonly in the context of healthcare. They can deal in generic and/or brand medications. They are subject to a variety of laws and regulations regarding the patenting, testing and marketing of drugs, particularly prescription drugs. From its beginnings at the start of the 19th Century, the pharmaceutical industry is now one of the most successful and influential, attracting both praise and controversy.