You're absolutely right! Those calculations can be done without actual testing. The only wrinkle is that doing so comes with the risk of failing to foresee something or otherwise being wrong. So there are some error bars involved.
What kind of error rate are you willing to accept in models of pharmaceutical shelf stability? Bearing in mind that errors potentially translate into deaths, probably disproportionately of the less privileged among us?
Re:The Myth of Drug Expiration Dates
by TheKarateKid on Tuesday July 25, 2017 @05:57PM
(#14852242)
I'm not sure how it would be any different than existing expiration dates for OTC medicines, food, dairy, etc. In the case of medication, it is most likely to become less effective over time rather than toxic.
Are they?
"able to calculate the longevity of chemicals, food, and other products without having to wait the actual time period"
Re:The Myth of Drug Expiration Dates
by TheKarateKid on Tuesday July 25, 2017 @05:58PM
(#14852253)
I doubt that food companies let their canned beans sit for 3 years to figure out if that August 2020 expiration date holds true.
It's very likely it is not favorable to companies to look into this, just as it was revealed that the EpiPen expiration date was not really true.