subject: Ensure your research has the best chance of success [print this page] Ensure your research has the best chance of success
Drug development is a massive global industry and one that is worth billions of dollars, employing people in countries across the world. When it comes to new, innovative drugs then the cost to a company of taking something from inception to market can also run into billions of dollars.
From the smallest laboratory to multi-national organisations, many of the risks remain the same when embarking on a drug development program, albeit on completely different scales. Costs associated with running a lab such as equipment, staff and general running costs are incurred at all levels and have to be met. However, despite spending what might run to many millions of dollars on such costs, there is no guarantee of securing a return.
Companies can spend years developing a drug that can potentially fall at the last hurdle and while it might come to market in some form, or inspire future drugs, it may never live up to its initial promise. And even if a new drug is successful and fulfils its early promise, if it does not stand up to regulatory scrutiny then it will never make its way to market. Satisfying stringent regulatory requirements that prove it is safe for humans is a huge challenge and ends up being the downfall of many promising drugs.
These are risks that companies involved in drug development are forced to take in their stride. There is no guarantee of success, and if anything, the odds are stacked against it. That is why it is imperative for researchers to have reliable and extremely detailed information at their fingertips covering a multitude of disciplines. Accessible data covering hundreds of thousands of different compounds with demonstrated biological activity, assists in the decision making process, and this type of support paves the way for successful drug development.
Being able to make important and correct decisions quickly, as a result of having a complete knowledge source that is updated and revised on a daily basis is vital, and allows research teams to remain at the cutting edge where breakthroughs are made. From a financial point of view, access to such information makes complete sense.
Medicinal chemistry research is a huge area and having the right research tools available during the drug discovery and development phase is critical to the process.
