Main description:

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

Contents:

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Preface

1 Introduction

Part I

How drugs are discovered and developed in the pharmaceutical industry

2 Introduction to drugs and drug targets

3 Background to chemistry of small and large molecules

4 Laying the foundations- Drug discovery from antiquity to the twenty first century

Part II

The drug development pipeline - discovery to testing in humans

5 Drug discovery pipeline overview

6 Target discovery

7 Medicinal chemistry

8 Biotherapeutics

9 Screening for hits

10 Process chemistry and formulation

11 Preclinical development

Part III

The drug development pipeline - clinical trials to marketing authorisation

12 Clinical trials

13 Regulatory affairs and marketing approval

14 Diagnostics and personalized medicine

15 Putting it All Together: a drug development case history

Part IV

The Global Pharmaceuticals Business

16 Commercial aspects of drug development

17 Challenges and responses

Part V

Professional Interactions with the Drug Discovery Industry

18 Professional Interactions with the Drug Discovery Industry: Technology Transfer Executives

19 Recruitment Executives

20 Pharmaceutical translators and Interpreters

Appendix 1 Further Reading

Appendix 2 Glossary of terms