The author's intention is the presentation of a panorama of the pharmaceutical industry in the 80's decade. After a brief description of the crisis faced by Brazilian economy during the decade, he deals with problems related to the market and to the technical and economic structure of the sector, its performance and the question of drugs. The writer examines, also, the strategic action of the industry next to the State, with a view at guaranteeing the enlargement of the market and of its growing profits. To that effect such action has the following characteristic points: a) the reduction of State control over prices, products, -marketing and advertising; b) vertical integration of the industry; c) patent regulations; d) interest and expansion of the institutional market by the national and foreign industries.Indústria farmacêutica na década de 80. Estrutura técnico-econômica do setor. Ação estratégica para expansão do mercado e crescimento dos lucros.