Innovation:Layout 1 14/1/10 19:56 Page 28
Drug Discovery
Examples of past innovation was combined with dramatically lower costs and
There are two examples of past innovation in drug high quality data. The willingness of pharmaceu-
discovery that might help us define innovation as tical companies to work with vendors and gam-
used here and then explore future innovations. The ble on a range of developing technologies gave
first is an example of innovation that would fit the vendors the incentive to take risks in researching,
looser definition of an improvement. Fluorescence licensing and developing products. It was an
Polarization (FP) is a technique with a theoretical exciting atmosphere of co-operation that resulted
basis going back to the 1920s and used in in a range of innovations that allowed the HTS
immunoassays until the 1960s. In spite of being goals to be met and exceeded. The advances,
used commercially as a diagnostic tool, it had lim- taken for granted today, include reliable automa-
ited success in drug discovery because it used a test tion (both for assays and compound stor-
tube format. When LJL Biosystems (later purchased age/distribution), SBS standards for microplates,
by Molecular Devices, www.moleculardevices.com) homogeneous assay technologies, multidetector
launched the Analyst microplate reader for FP in readers, imaging hardware and software, liquid
the latter part of the 1990s, the method gained wide handling (both mL and nL), database and pattern
use and success in drug discovery. Some might not recognition software and the development of
consider this innovative. While FP itself was not a skills in process control that brought throughput
new technique, developments in hardware com- and quality to HTS. As more ‘hits’ were found,
bined to make it an innovative product. The num- the equipment and skill moved to the next bottle
ber of publications in journals such as JBS (Journal neck: the downstream processes of profiling, lead
of the Society of Biomolecular Sciences) attest to its optimisation and ADME. There has also been
wide use and popularity as do the large number of upstream migration of technology to target dis-
manufacturers that now offer FP capabilities in covery, validation and robust assay development.
multi-mode plate readers. By the early part of the 2000s, a large amount
An innovation that fits a stricter definition of of time and money had been invested by technol-
something substantially new is the development of ogy providers and pharmaceutical companies in
acoustic dispensing. The field of nanodispensing the development and implementation of innova-
has developed over a number of years with a vari- tive technologies. Vendors saw an immediate
ety of methods to dispense picolitre to nanolitre return and more and more companies were
volumes. The need was there, but the technologies drawn to this lucrative market. Pharmaceutical
(for example, piezo) could be temperamental. The (pharma) and biotech companies, however, did
introduction of acoustic dispensing (Echo systems, not see an immediate return. They could reduce
Labcyte, www.labcyte.com) stands as an important the number of people in HTS labs as a result of
innovation. The Echo made nanodispensing much automation and move more compounds into
more robust and practicable for drug discovery development, but the long timeframe of drug
from compound dispensing to assay assembly on development precluded a rapid, quantifiable
automated systems. return on investment. In fact, there was little
proof that the investment would lead to any
Historical perspective improvement in the bottom line – more drugs on
Innovation or a lack of it results from the closely the market. Pharma management, faced with
linked relationship between technology availability dwindling pipelines, difficult market conditions
and both market need and market conditions. It is and economic downturns, reduced headcount
a cycle that requires a market that is receptive to and budgets. In the drug discovery area, manage-
new technologies and vendors who take the risk of ment wanted proof that past investments were
developing these technologies. Continuing innova- paying off before continuing to fund technology.
tion requires both and when the cycle is broken in The combination of decreased spending on new
any part, the process is disrupted. The growth and equipment and reduced personnel to manage
maturation of high throughput screening (HTS) is technology assessment and implementation
a good example of how need drives innovation. resulted in a much more critical look at new tech-
Throughout the 1990s there was a technology nology. Vendors, faced with reduced sales in a
need in HTS to meet very aggressive throughput very competitive market, cut back as well. In dif-
goals. Screening 100,000 compounds a day ficult economic conditions it is a common reac-
became a widely accepted target. At the time this tion to focus on cost cutting and maximising
was a challenge, but it wasn’t the only goal. The sales of current products while reducing develop-
throughput would not be sustainable unless it ment investments. Why risk the development
28 Drug Discovery World Winter 2009/10
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