Strategy, Management and Health PolicyEnabling Technol., Genomics, ProteomicsPreclin. ResearchPreclin. Development Toxicol., Formulation Drug Delivery, PharmacokineticsClin. Development Phases I-III Regulatory, Quality, ManufacturingPostmarketing Phase IV Medical countermeasure drug development is a complex field that is an important component of public and private medical preparedness. Medical professionals and emergency management planners in military, government, and private settings depend on successful drug development and collaboration among project sponsors, research institution(s), and private pharmaceutical companies. When a medical countermeasure is developed, manufacturing, distribution security, logistics, training, and protocol needs are arranged within a complex economic and political reality. The medical countermeasure products that are developed sit waiting with hope that they are never used. When they are needed, rapid access and well-developed preparedness plans are critical for the important emergency response that is expected in the aftermath of a disaster. Preparedness plans and procedures are continually changing, and medical countermeasure practices need to change and develop further to keep pace with evolving risk. Partnerships among government, research, and the private sector can help guarantee successful drug development toward improved emergency preparedness. These elements, when combined with well-developed preparedness plans, can help ensure the rapid availability of important medications needed to treat victims following a terrorist event or other disaster.