The Science and Business of Drug Discovery is written for those who want to learn about the biopharmaceutical industry and its products whatever their level of technical knowledge. Its aim is to demystify the jargon used in drug development, but in a way that avoids over simplification and the resulting loss of key information. Each of the twenty chapters is illustrated with figures and tables which clarify some of the more technical points being made. Also included is a drug discovery case history which draws the relevant material together into a single chapter. In recognizing that it is difficult to navigate through the many external resources dealing with drug development, the book has been written to guide the reader towards the most appropriate information sources, including those listed in the two appendices.

The following topics are covered:

• Different types of drugs: from small molecules to stem cells
• Background to chemistry of small and large molecules
• Historical background to drug discovery, pharmacology and biotechnology
• The drug discovery pipeline: from target discovery to marketed medicine
• Commercial aspects of drug discovery
• Challenges to the biopharmaceutical industry and its responses
• Material of specific interest to technology transfer executives, recruiters and pharmaceutical translators

 

Introduction

PART 1: How Drugs are Discovered and Developed in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Introduction to Drugs and Drug Targets.-   Background to chemistry of small and large molecules
Laying the foundations- Drug discovery from antiquity to the twenty first century
Part II-The drug development pipeline - discovery to testing in humans
Drug discovery pipeline overview
Target discovery
Medicinal chemistry
Biotherapeutics
Screening for hits
Process chemistry and formulation
Preclinical development
Part III-The drug development pipeline - clinical trials to marketing authorisation
Clinical trials
Regulatory affairs and marketing approval
Diagnostics and personalized medicine
Putting it All Together: a drug development case history
Part IV- The Global Pharmaceuticals Business
Commercial aspects of drug development
Challenges and responses
Part V - Professional Interactions with the Drug Discovery Industry.-Professional Interactions with the Drug Discovery Industry: Technology Transfer Executives
Recruitment Executives
Pharmaceutical translators and Interpreters.