The focus of research and development by the pharma companies is to develop more efficacious drugs with minimal adverse effects. Advances in the basic understanding of a disease at the molecular level, involvement of the complex pathways and targets as well as the cross talk, control mechanisms has contributed effectively in these efforts. Novel discovery platforms, drug delivery platforms, formulation technologies, biodegradable polymers, devices and diagnostic tool have also contributed significantly to this effort.  This has led to success stories in “translational research” and the number of better medicines/targeted therapies is growing.

Identifying specific target(s) that could be used to modulate the key steps in the disease progression /transformation is critical to develop new safer and efficacious therapies. The first generation /monotherapy are usually effective in a subset of the total patient population (personalised medicine) where the target is prevalent. However, over time better understanding of the biology of the transformation process results in drug combinations that could expand the use of the select drug in a broader population or indications.

Therapies against HER2/neu, CDK4/6, PD1/PD L1, PARP, JAK2, BTK etc. are some of the noteworthy targets have made a paradigm change in the treatment approach of the relevant cancers.  Approval of targeted therapies in the treatment of cancers dominate the scene but rapid progress in developing targeted therapies in other therapeutic areas (CNS, inflammation, etc.) is also being made.  Drugs targeting GLP, DPPIV, SGLT2, CGRP, BACE, b-amyloid/ tau proteins, etc. are approved or in the clinic for major indications- diabetes, migraine, Alzheimer’s etc.

The new drug delivery systems and formulation of approved drugs have helped in “repurposing” or extending the life cycle of “on the edge of patent expiry” drugs.  There are several companies with proprietary technology platforms to address these efforts and come in the limelight only when a big pharma strikes an attractive licensing deal/ collaboration or acquires it completely.

We aim to target several of these targets/ areas in our future research reports and look forward to your input.  Please contact us for any customised research on a therapy area/ drug/ company/ target.

 

“Our Greatest Glory is not in Never Failing, But in Rising Up Every Time We Fail” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Oct. 2018

Advance in Drug Delivery & Formulation Technology Series

Nanotherapeutics in the treatment of Cancer: Advances to Improve Efficacy, Bioavailability and Safety

Sept., 2018

Parkinson’s Disease

Molecular Landscape & Future Disease Modifying Targeted Therapies

May, 2018

Exploring Opportunities in Niche Therapies 

Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) Infections

Feb., 2018

Innovation in India Series

An Analysis of Select Pharma/Biotech Start-ups

Feb., 2018

Calcitonin – Gene Related Peptide (CGRP) Antagonists /Monoclonal Antibodies

New Targeted Therapies for Migraine

Nov., 2017

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPN) and its overlaps with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)

Molecular Profiling and Treatment Dilemma – What, When, and How?

Sept., 2017

Oral Mucositis

An Analysis of Drugs in Development, Market Opportunity, unmet need, Disease prevalence and occurrence in cancer in Various Geographies

July, 2017

Poly(adenosine diphosphate [ADP]–ribose) Polymerases (PARPs) Inhibitors

Successful targeting of DNA Repair Pathways by PARP Inhibitors – Current and Future Potential