A Role for Virtual Biotechnology Companies in Drug Discovery and Development?

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dianne Nicol ◽  
Johnathon Liddicoat ◽  
Christine Critchley
Keyword(s):  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Pharmaceutical Companies ◽  
Virtual Model ◽  
Journal Articles ◽  
Drug Discovery And Development ◽  
Biotechnology Companies ◽  
Novel Method

The orthodox business model of many drug discovery and development companies centres on adding value to early-stage discoveries prior to engaging with large pharmaceutical companies to bring products to market. Anecdotal observations suggest some companies are moving to a ‘virtual’ business model - instead of employing in-house scientists, a skeletal management team runs the company and out-sources all research and development. This article presents a novel method to determine whether companies are virtual, based on author bylines in peer-reviewed journal articles. Applying this method to Australian companies in this sector, the size of the cohort identified as virtual was much larger than anticipated, around 52%. The accuracy of this method has been verified statistically using interview data. This article discusses the value and limitations of this method, positing that it can be used to analyse industry and policy implications that may result from widespread adoption of the virtual model

scholarly journals Glossary and tutorial of xenobiotic metabolism terms used during small molecule drug discovery and development (IUPAC Technical Report)

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Erhardt ◽  
Kenneth Bachmann ◽  
Donald Birkett ◽  
Michael Boberg ◽  
Nicholas Bodor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Small Molecule ◽  
Chemical Structure ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Xenobiotic Metabolism ◽  
Drug Discovery And Development ◽  
Small Molecule Drug ◽  
Technical Report ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Draft Version

Abstract This project originated more than 15 years ago with the intent to produce a glossary of drug metabolism terms having definitions especially applicable for use by practicing medicinal chemists. A first-draft version underwent extensive beta-testing that, fortuitously, engaged international audiences in a wide range of disciplines involved in drug discovery and development. It became clear that the inclusion of information to enhance discussions among this mix of participants would be even more valuable. The present version retains a chemical structure theme while expanding tutorial comments that aim to bridge the various perspectives that may arise during interdisciplinary communications about a given term. This glossary is intended to be educational for early stage researchers, as well as useful for investigators at various levels who participate on today’s highly multidisciplinary, collaborative small molecule drug discovery teams.

Trends underlying early-stage drug discovery and development collaborations from October 2002 to September 2004

2005 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J Belsey ◽  
Alex K Pavlou
Keyword(s):  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Target Identification ◽  
New Wave ◽  
Fully Integrated ◽  
Drug Discovery And Development ◽  
The Past ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Increasing Demand

As part of Datamonitor's alliance and licensing strategic analysis, the authors have completed a two year survey of the trends underlying early-stage drug discovery and development collaborations between October 2002 and September 2004, which included 524 early-stage deals. Deal analysis shows that the leading pharma and biotech companies (fully integrated players) are the principal collaboration seekers, and that target and product innovation is driving the new wave of 21st century deals. These deals cover all phases of early-stage drug development, with lead product/target identification/validation accounting for the greatest proportion of collaborations. This represents a shift away from initial-stage collaborations, which are primarily focused on technologies such as genomics, as a result of the lack of tangible results that such technologies have delivered in the past. Following the continuously increasing demand for late-stage high-value products, the aim of the money and time invested in these early-stage collaborations is to reverse the pipeline productivity crisis currently affecting the industry's leaders over the mid to long term.

Surviving in the Valley of Death: Opportunities and Challenges in Translating Academic Drug Discoveries

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 405-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus C. Parrish ◽  
Yuan Jin Tan ◽  
Kevin V. Grimes ◽  
Daria Mochly-Rosen
Keyword(s):  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Translational Research ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
The United States ◽  
Academic Programs ◽  
Government Policies ◽  
Pharmaceutical Companies ◽  
Financial Return ◽  
Know How ◽  
Valley Of Death

With pharmaceutical companies shrinking their research departments and exiting out of efforts related to unprofitable diseases, society has become increasingly dependent on academic institutions to perform drug discovery and early-stage translational research. Academic drug discovery and translational research programs assist in shepherding promising therapeutic opportunities through the so-called valley of death in the hope that a successful new drug will result in saved lives, improved health, economic growth, and financial return. We have interviewed directors of 16 such academic programs in the United States and found that these programs and the projects therein face numerous challenges in reaching the clinic, including limited funding, lack of know-how, and lack of a regional drug development ecosystem. If these issues can be addressed through novel industry partnerships, the revision of government policies, and expanded programs in translational education, more effective new therapies are more likely to reach patients in need.

scholarly journals New sources of drugs for hematologic malignancies

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 117 (25) ◽  
pp. 6747-6755 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahadeo A. Sukhai ◽  
Paul A. Spagnuolo ◽  
Scott Weir ◽  
James Kasper ◽  
Lavonne Patton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Drug Repurposing ◽  
Hematologic Malignancies ◽  
Charitable Organizations ◽  
Biotechnology Companies ◽  
Old Drugs ◽  
New Strategies ◽  
Lengthy Process

Abstract Advancing novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of malignancy into the marketplace is an increasingly costly and lengthy process. As such, new strategies for drug discovery are needed. Drug repurposing represents an opportunity to rapidly advance new therapeutic strategies into clinical trials at a relatively low cost. Known on-patent or off-patent drugs with unrecognized anticancer activity can be rapidly advanced into clinical testing for this new indication by leveraging their known pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology. Using this approach, academic groups can participate in the drug discovery field and smaller biotechnology companies can “de-risk” early-stage drug discovery projects. Here, several scientific approaches used to identify drug repurposing opportunities are highlighted, with a focus on hematologic malignancies. In addition, a discussion of the regulatory issues that are unique to drug repurposing and how they impact developing old drugs for new indications is included. Finally, the mechanisms to enhance drug repurposing through increased collaborations between academia, industry, and nonprofit charitable organizations are discussed.

scholarly journals Ideation and implementation of an open science drug discovery business model – M4K Pharma

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxwell Robert Morgan ◽  
Owen Gwilym Roberts ◽  
Aled Morgan Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Intellectual Property ◽  
Venture Capital ◽  
Brain Tumour ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Pharmaceutical Companies ◽  
Drug Discovery Program ◽  
Paediatric Brain Tumour ◽  
Returns On Investment

M4K Pharma was incorporated to launch an open science drug discovery program that relies on regulatory exclusivity as its primary intellectual property and commercial asset, in lieu of patents.In many cases and in key markets, using regulatory exclusivity can provide equivalent commercial protection to patents, while also being compatible with open science. The model is proving attractive to government, foundation and individual funders, who collectively have different expectations for returns on investment compared with biotech, pharmaceutical companies, or venture capital investors.In the absence of these investor-driven requirements for returns, it should be possible to commercialize therapeutics at affordable prices.M4K is piloting this open science business model in a rare paediatric brain tumour, but there is no reason it should not be more widely applicable.

ADMET Profiling in Drug Discovery and Development: Perspectives of in silico, in vitro and integrated approaches

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nour El-Huda Daoud ◽  
Pobitra Borah ◽  
Pran Kishore Deb ◽  
Katharigatta N. Venugopala ◽  
Wafa Hourani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Discovery ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Predictive Power ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
In Vitro Models ◽  
Prediction Ability ◽  
Drug Discovery And Development ◽  
In Silico Admet

: In the drug discovery setting, undesirable ADMET properties of a pharmacophore with good predictive power obtained after a tedious drug discovery and development process may lead to late-stage attrition. The early-stage ADMET profiling has introduced a new dimension to leading development. Although several high-throughput in vitro models are available for ADMET profiling, however, the in silico methods are gaining more importance because of their economic and faster prediction ability without the requirements of tedious and expensive laboratory resources. Nonetheless, in silico ADMET tools alone are not accurate and, therefore, ideally adopted along with in vitro and or in vivo methods in order to enhance predictability power. This review summarizes the significance and challenges associated with the application of in silico tools as well as the possible scope of in vitro models for integration to improve the ADMET predictability power of these tools.

Biotech–pharma alliances: Strategies, structures and financing

10.5912/jcb91 ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyzoon Tyebjee ◽  
Jill Hardin
Keyword(s):  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Financial Instruments ◽  
Drug Discovery And Development ◽  
Development Cycle ◽  
Biotechnology Companies ◽  
Strategic Logic

The drug discovery and development industry is under intense pressure to become more efficient and develop drugs better, faster, cheaper. Consequently, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are entering into alliances in an effort to utilise each other's talents, exploit each other's specialisations, and create more value. In this paper, the economics of the drug discovery and development cycle are examined to identify the economic and strategic logic of the alliances. The financial instruments commonly used to structure the alliances are discussed with example case studies.

scholarly journals Redesigning antidepressant drug discovery

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-7
Keyword(s):  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Antidepressant Drug ◽  
Diagnostic Process ◽  
Pharmaceutical Companies ◽  
Drug Discovery And Development ◽  
Drug Candidates ◽  
Rapid Transfer ◽  
Efficacy Studies

Antidepressant drug discovery and development have been put on hold by many pharmaceutical companies. The main reason for this is the negative efficacy studies with novel specific drugs. Here I argue that the main obstacles are the absence of gene tests and biomarkers as an integral part of a diagnostic process. Further, too much emphasis has been put on validating drug candidates in animal models of psychiatric disorders. A more rapid transfer of drug candidates into human research is necessary to overcome current obstacles that prevent the discovery of next-generation antidepressants.

Opinion piece: Biotechnology's growth–innovation paradox and the new model for success

10.5912/jcb38 ◽  
1969 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Baker
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Third Parties ◽  
Pharmaceutical Companies ◽  
New Model ◽  
Opinion Piece ◽  
Future Success ◽  
Biotechnology Companies ◽  
Biotechnology Sector

Biotechnology companies are increasingly challenging traditional pharmaceutical companies as the discoverers, developers and marketers of drugs. The biotechnology sector, however, is facing a paradox. The sector's strength has been based on companies' innovation abilities while the sector's future success will depend on growth. The traditional pharmaceutical business model, however, may not be the best for biotechnology companies to emulate. Instead, biotechnology companies may be better served by transforming themselves into product-driven companies with a centre of innovation and a network of third parties or capability providers that can supply elements such as development, manufacturing and sales.

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