People who follow ethical principles; also sometimes refers to pharmaceutical drugs that require a prescription as opposed to over-the-counter drugs.
From 'ethical' (adjective) used as a noun. In pharmacy, 'ethical pharmaceuticals' became shortened to 'ethicals' in industry terminology.
In the pharmaceutical world, 'ethical drugs' means the ones doctors must recommend because they're considered safer and more regulated—a term that ironically emerged from marketing language.
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