Drug development timescale

A simplified view of the pharmaceutical drug development events (not to the timescale) is given in Fig. 1. 

In line with expectations of kinetic inertness for third-row transition metals, little interest has been vested in the development of osmium anticancer drugs, as ligand-exchange rates did not seem favorable on the timescale of cellular processes. Our work, however, shows that the kinetic lability of such complexes can be timed to such extent that anticancer activity comes within range. We have demonstrated how rational chemical design can thus be applied to osmium-arene complexes resulting in specific... 

This testing is carried out as part of the development process of a new drug product. So the work has to be managed in the overall timescale and process of development and final data package must meet requirements on data quality and content. 

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