The Science and Business of Drug Discovery: Demystifying the Jargon

by Edward D. Zanders

Overview

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

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783030578145
Publisher:	Springer-Verlag New York, LLC
Publication date:	11/09/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	16 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Dr. Edward D. Zanders has over 30 years’ experience as a scientist and research manager in both a major pharmaceutical company and in smaller biotechnology organizations. He has been responsible for a number of drug discovery programs for diseases such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis and has been involved in research management at a senior level. He has also published extensively on subjects ranging from biochemistry and immunology to computer-aided drug design and the application of online networking to drug discovery. More recently he has written about drug targets in the human genome and a survey of drug discovery for glioblastoma. In 2004 he founded PharmaGuide Ltd, a training and consultancy company that delivers courses on the drug discovery industry to various professional groups including technology transfer executives, recruiters and technical translators. It is through delivering these courses that he has been able to develop his own way of conveying complex information about drug discovery to non scientists, while at the same time being able to communicate with PhD level scientists at their level of expertise.

Table of Contents

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.

Editorial Reviews

From the reviews:

“‘The Science and Business of Drug Discovery: Demystifying the Jargon’ is an engaging, comprehensive and straightforward review of drug discovery and development. The book is ideal for anyone who wants to understand how their work fits into the overall scheme or needs to communicate with people from other specialties.” (Norman M. Goldfarb, Journal of Clinical Research Best Practices, Vol. 8 (4), April, 2012)

“A ‘thorough review of the technical and business aspects of drug discovery that can be understood by a reader with little scientific knowledge.’ … Zanders tries to use as little jargon as possible in explaining how drugs work, and he provides case histories of certain drugs. … each chapter can stand alone, letting readers choose what interests them. Enhancing the text are an excellent glossary and suggestions for further reading. … Summing Up: Recommended. Chemistry, pharmacy, and medical collections supporting upper-level undergraduates and above.” (N. Kupferberg, Choice, Vol. 49 (5), January, 2012)

“The book excellently highlights many scientific and technological developments, breakthroughs, and their impacts on pharmaceutical R&D at its various stages and thus provides interesting reading for students, professionals, and even experts in scientific disciplines relevant to drug discovery and development … . the book can also be recommended as excellent reading to all those who would like to break through the walls of esotericism of the many disciplines and technologies or expert circles involved in the pharmaceutical business.” (Klaus Müller, ChemMedChem, Vol. 7, 2012)

From the Publisher