Journal profile · Toxicology
Drug Safety
ISSN 0114-5916 · eISSN 1179-1942 · Springer International Publishing · NEW ZEALAND · Monthly · Founded 1986
Drug Safety: CAS Zone 2 · Medicine (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 5.89; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,990; median 124 days to acceptance (60 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: moderate; 133 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Drug Safety is published by Springer International Publishing and is in Zone 2 of Medicine in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Pharmacovigilance and Adverse Drug Reactions, Drug-Induced Adverse Reactions and Pharmaceutical Practices and Patient Outcomes, together about 38.3% of its articles. Its main subfields are Pharmacology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Drug Safety is the official journal of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance. The journal includes: Overviews of contentious or emerging issues. Comprehensive narrative reviews that provide an authoritative source of information on epidemiology, clinical features, prevention and management of adverse effects of individual drugs and drug classes. In-depth benefit-risk assessment of adverse effect and efficacy data for a drug in a defined therapeutic area. Systematic reviews (with or without meta-analyses) that collate empirical evidence to answer a specific research question, using explicit, systematic methods as outlined by the PRISMA statement. Original research articles reporting the results of well-designed studies in disciplines such as pharmacoepidemiology, pharmacovigilance, pharmacology and toxicology, and pharmacogenomics. Editorials and commentaries on topical issues.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Toxicology
Editor-in-chief Nitin Joshi BPharmPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 1 in mainland China (about 2%); most named United Kingdom 13, United States 12, Netherlands 5, Italy 4, Australia 4 (61 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Pharmacovigilance and Adverse Drug ReactionsPharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics25.7%
- Drug-Induced Adverse ReactionsMedicine6.4%
- Pharmaceutical Practices and Patient OutcomesMedicine6.2%
- Pharmaceutical studies and practicesMedicine6%
- Pharmaceutical Economics and PolicyEconomics, Econometrics and Finance4.3%
- Drug-Induced Hepatotoxicity and ProtectionPharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics3.8%
- Pharmaceutical industry and healthcarePharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics3.6%
- Pharmacological Effects and Toxicity StudiesMedicine3.5%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Medicine Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Toxicology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Pharmacology & Pharmacy | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Public, Environmental & Occupational Health | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Medicine Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Public, Environmental & Occupational Health | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Pharmacology & Pharmacy | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Toxicology | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Medicine Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Pharmacology & Pharmacy | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Public, Environmental & Occupational Health | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Toxicology | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
MEDLINEEmbaseCASCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS, Semantic Scholar
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 5.89LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 5.9Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 5Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 8.4LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.45LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 2LetPub ·
- h-index
- 115LetPub ·
- h-index
- 174OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 2,698OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 6.68OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 6.8%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 60.93%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 109LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 1,200,000Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 4,407 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 85 | 60 | 56 |
| 2025 | 133 | 93 | 472 |
| 2024 | 117 | 86 | 1,710 |
| 2023 | 121 | 85 | 1,597 |
| 2022 | 129 | 89 | 2,534 |
| 2021 | 105 | 79 | 2,138 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
124 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 78 days – 174 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 28 days (103 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 166 days
- Sample
- 60 articles with submission and acceptance dates (240 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- 6–12 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- ModerateLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 6 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 4,990 / EUR 3,890 / GBP 3,090 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare6 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 10,000 words
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- First submission
- Free format: the journal's layout is not required
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
- Not considered
- case reports; in vitro studies; animal studies
Article types accepted15
- benefit-risk assessmentBenefit-Risk Assessment. Word count up to 8000. Provides an in-depth review of the adverse effect data (from both the literature and adverse event databases) an…Length not stated
- case reportPlease note: There is no limit on the number of tables, figures or references that can accompany an article. Information that is relevant but not critical to un…Length not stated
- current opinionCurrent Opinion. Word count approximately up to 3000. Places an area in perspective given that it is of current international interest and a consensus has not y…Length not stated
- editorialInternal Review by Editorial Staff: The journal editor will perform an initial appraisal of each manuscript. If your paper has been peer reviewed by another jou…Length not stated
- editorial/commentaryEditorial/Commentary. Word count up to 1500. A brief opinion piece on a current topic of high interest.Length not stated
- leading articleLeading Article. Word count up to 4000. Provides a short, balanced overview of the current state of development of an emerging area.Length not stated
- letter to the editorLetter to the Editor. Word count up to 1000. Comment on an article published recently in the journal; a response to the comments would normally be sought from t…Length not stated
- opinionPlease note: There is no limit on the number of tables, figures or references that can accompany an article. Information that is relevant but not critical to un…Length not stated
- original researchPlease note: There is no limit on the number of tables, figures or references that can accompany an article. Information that is relevant but not critical to un…Length not stated
- original research articlePlease note: There is no limit on the number of tables, figures or references that can accompany an article. Information that is relevant but not critical to un…Length not stated
- perspectivePlease note: There is no limit on the number of tables, figures or references that can accompany an article. Information that is relevant but not critical to un…Length not stated
- reviewPlease note: There is no limit on the number of tables, figures or references that can accompany an article. Information that is relevant but not critical to un…Length not stated
- review articlePlease note: There is no limit on the number of tables, figures or references that can accompany an article. Information that is relevant but not critical to un…Length not stated
- summary of research article (sra)Summary of Research Article (SRA): A standalone summary of a source article previously published in an Adis journal, or in a journal from another publisher.Length not stated
- systematic reviewPlease note: There is no limit on the number of tables, figures or references that can accompany an article. Information that is relevant but not critical to un…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Trial registration / reporting guidelines
- AI use Generative AI Images
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship Principles
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Disclosures and declarations
All authors are requested to include information regarding sources of funding, financial or non-financial interests, study-specific approval by the appropriate ethics committee for research involving humans and/or animals, informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved animals (as appropriate). The decision whether such …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
Data availability statement required for all original research Model summary
All original research must include a data availability statement. This statement should explain how to access data supporting the results and analysis in the article, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Please see our full policy here. If it is not possible to share research data publicly, for instance when individual privacy could be com…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright and license term – CC BY-NC
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License Find more about the license agreement Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
Open Choice articles published under CC BY-NC 4.0 Model summary
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Drug Safety, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review
Case reports, in vitro studies, and animal studies not published Model summary
The journal does not publish case reports, in vitro studies, or animal studies.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Trial registration / reporting guidelines Clinical Trial Registration
The World Health Organization (WHO) definition of a clinical trial is "any research study that prospectively assigns human participants or groups of humans to one or more health-related interventions to evaluate the effects on health outcomes". The WHO defines health interventions as “A health intervention is an act performed for, with or on behalf of a person or population whose purpose is to ass…
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Springer International Publishing
- Country or region
- NEW ZEALAND
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1986
- ISSN
- 0114-5916
- Electronic ISSN
- 1179-1942
- Society / sponsor
- International Society of Pharmacovigilance [ISoP]
- Latest issue on the website
- Volume 49, Issue 10 (October 2026)
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Drug Safety
What CAS zone is Drug Safety in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Drug Safety is in Zone 2 of Medicine, and in Zone 1 of the minor category Toxicology / Pharmacology & Pharmacy / Public, Environmental & Occupational Health. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 2 of Medicine. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Drug Safety?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 5.89; CiteScore 8.4, h-index 174.
How long does peer review take at Drug Safety?
Based on the dates recorded on 60 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 124 days (interquartile range 78–174 days); authors report an average review time of 6–12 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Moderate”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Drug Safety?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Manuscript length: ≤ 10,000 words; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; First submission: Free format: the journal's layout is not required; Suggested reviewers: Optional. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Drug Safety based?
Of the 61 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 1 (about 2%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United Kingdom (13), United States (12) and Netherlands (5). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Drug Safety?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Drug Safety is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists MEDLINE, Embase, CAS and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Drug Safety open access, and what is the APC?
Drug Safety is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,990.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .