Links with academia changing way Pharma does science, says Tufts CSDD

Drug developers are forging new ways to work with academic medical centers to create the next generation of breakthrough medicines, which is changing the way drug companies do science, according to a panel of leaders from the research-based drug industry recently convened by the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development.

The research complexities associated with the most challenging diseases and medical conditions means that few companies have the resources required to discover new molecules and then take them through clinical development and, ultimately, product launch," commented Tufts CSDD professor and director Kenneth Kaitin, adding: "They are finding, however, that academic medical centers can provide a valuable way to bridge the gap between discovery and clinical development."

Roundtable participants acknowledged that drug developers face a two-fold problem: companies need to evolve their business model to speed creation of new, promising compounds at less cost, and they need to revamp their research models to better supply the R&D pipeline. The problem, Dr Kaitin said, could not be more urgent, especially in light of expiring patents, more complex clinical trials, and a more demanding regulatory environment.