One of the roles of a pharmaceutical benefit manager is to:

The role of a pharmaceutical benefit manager (PBM) primarily revolves around the management of prescription drug benefits for insurers and employers. This includes controlling access to medications and managing costs to ensure that patients have access to necessary therapies while also optimizing healthcare spending for their clients. PBMs negotiate pricing with drug manufacturers, create formularies that list covered medications, and implement cost management strategies such as prior authorization and step therapy to promote the use of lower-cost alternatives when appropriate.

This operational focus allows PBMs to balance the need for patients to receive effective medication therapy with the financial realities of health care spending. By managing these aspects, PBMs can help streamline the distribution of pharmaceuticals within the healthcare system.

In contrast, providing comprehensive drug information to patients, conducting research on drug safety, and approving new drug applications fall outside the primary scope of PBMs. Those activities are typically carried out by healthcare providers, regulatory bodies like the FDA, or research institutions. Thus, the key role of managing costs and access confirms why this choice is the correct answer in the context of a PBM's responsibilities.