L9 BioCurate Flashcards
Drug Discovery and Development - Stages
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- Idea
- Novel MoA (Mechanism of Action)
- Target
- Lead Discovery
- Preclinical
- IND (Investigational New Drug)
- Clinical Trials (1,2,3)
- Registration
Basic Research (Pre-Discovery) - Steps 1-3
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Contribute to understanding of disease and identify potential drug targets
Drug Discovery and Development
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- lead discovery
- preclinical
- IND
- clinical trials
IND
Investigational New Drug application
- submit all preclinical results and detailed clinical trial plans for FDA approval
Lead Discovery
Create novel molecule (or select existing start point) then optimise to maximise efficacy and achieve clear IP position
Ideally generate lead and back-up drug candidates
Preclinical
Analyse new drug for efficacy and safety using lab and animal models
Clinical trials
Safety and efficacy in 3 phases, usually beginning in healthy volunteers, then moving into larger groups of patients
Who does the different stages of Drug Discovery and Development?
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Basic research - government, academia, research institutions and companies
drug discovery and development
- biotech companies, research division of pharmaceutical companies, government-industry collaborations
- pharmaceutical companies (Big Pharma Venture Capital)
Venoclax Example
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Idea - 1988
Approved - 2017
Took 29 years from idea to FDA approval
Financing Drug Discovery and Development
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estimated cost >$1 billion
Principal investors in drug development differ at each stage:
- basic discovery research: government, uni, philanthropic organisations
- late-stage development: pharmaceutical companies, VCs
between these two: must prove efficacy and safety of a proposed new drug
- funding gap occurs = “valley of death”, translation gap
Why do we call it the Valley of Death?
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- drug discovery and associated IP protection are not well supported by public-sector funding of medical research in Australia
- many target-hypotheses fail to achieve proof-of-concept (PoC) in animal models (or patients)
- drug discovery activities often prevent or delay publication
BUT big pharma of VC groups will not fill the gap
- success rate for converting basic science into useful therapies is low, creating deterrent to investment
Projects effectively hold no commercial value until drug candidate demonstrates PoC in an animal model
- only then can VCs value a program
Existing government bridges
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- biomedical translation fund
- entrepreneur’s program
- global innovation linkages program
- therapeutic innovation Australia
ETC…
National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC) funding, 2018
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More than 80% of all applications are not funded
Australian Research Council
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- more than 80% ARC applications failed, those that were successful only received 65-68% of the requested funds
Go to the market BUT…
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- public offering
- becomes publicly traded company
BUT…
- biotech companies have a low success rate