The Future of the Drug Discovery Process and the

Fate of the Pharmaceutical Industry

Executive Summary

In accordance with the structure of Scientific Revolutions the Pharmaceutical Industry ran into "dead-end streets" several times during its modern history. Such problematic periods were followed by a new Renaissance which was due to a new mode of thinking, the application of a new philosophy, amounting to nothing less than a characteristic Paradigm-shift.  The acceptance of the paradigm-shift, and the application of its associated new technology, resulted in a corresponding Breakthrough, at every time. We may assign, to these happenings, approximately, the following years, with ±5 year tolerance: 1890s, 1920s, 1950s, 1980s, thus, these breakthroughs occurred in roughly 30 years of intervals. Clearly, we are facing a new Breakthrough, in the near future, perhaps in 2010 or soon thereafter.

Those who will act as midwives for the birth of the new technology can take advantage of the emerging new Molecular Revolution. In essence, their advanced knowledge will allow them to apply the new technology before anybody else does, thus, they can become leaders of a multi-trillion-dollar Pharmaceutical Industry

CONTENTS

1. Current Predicaments

1.1 Economic Success of the Pharmaceutical Industry in the 20^th Century
1.2 Economic Doom of the Pharmaceutical Industry at the Dawn of the 21^st Century
1.3 The 20^th Century R&D Philosophy is not a viable concept in the   21^st Century

2  New Directions

2.1 Beyond the 500 Dalton Limit; Larger Molecules show greater selectivity
2.2 Learning from Nature: "how to do it"

3  New Philosophy

3.1 The Emergence of Systems Biology
3.2 The Emergence of Accurate Quantum Predictions, leading to Systems Chemistry
3.3 The Quest for Intelligent Catalyst Design to produce the new types of Drugs
3.4 The need for Systems Pharmaceutical Science

4  Intelligent software

4.1 A "Total System" Approach  
4.2 A Flow-Chart, illustrating the Software System to be developed

5  Anticipated Results

5.1 An unprecedented revival of the Pharmaceutical Industry
5.2 An ultimate financial reward on the initial R&D investment

Download the full text: PDF