In history, Chinese Pharmacological Society (CNPHARS, CPS) was a section of the Chinese Association of Physiological Sciences before 1985, and has been independent since 1985.

CNPHARS is a national academic society registered and approved by the National Department of Civil Administration. It is a full member of the China Association for Science and Technology and participates in the work of its National Committees.

According to its statutes, CNPHARS is a voluntary, non-profit organization representing the interests of pharmacologists around the China. Now, CNPHARS has full members, student members, communication members and honorary members. Total members are more than 12,000 and most of them are senior pharmacologists in universities, colleges or academic institutes.

CNPHARS currently has 28 section including Cardiovascular Pharmacology, Neuropsychopharmacology, Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Biochemical and Molecular Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology, Drug Toxicology, Anti-inflammation and Immunopharmacology, Tumor Pharmacology, Chemotherapy Pharmacology, Pharmacometrics, Drug Metabolism, Pharmacology of Pharmaceutical Industry, Teaching and Popular Science, Reproductive Pharmacology, Marine Drug Pharmacology, Anti-ageing and Anti-dementia Pharmacology, Anesthetic Pharmacology, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Tonic Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Care, Pharmacogenomics, Drug Clinical Trial  and Drug-induced Diseases.

The main objectives of CNPHARS are to promote national and international scientific exchange and cooperation in pharmacology and related disciplines by holding meeting, symposium, workshop. Recent years, CNPHARS has been held the Joint Meeting of Pharmacology with Japan Pharmacological Society, France Pharmacological Society, Russia Pharmacological Society, British Pharmacological Society, and American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.  CNPHARS has actively participated in various consultations such as the approval of new drugs and health foods as well as the establishment of basic national drugs.

CNPHARS has its own publication. The official journal, Chinese Pharmacologist is published every March, June September, and December. CNPHARS has sponsored Acta Pharmacologica Sinica, Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin, Chinese Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, andActa Neuropharmacologica.