Drug value chain

Fig. 14.1 Drug discovery value chain and selected key technologies and activities [2].

He took over the responsibility for the complete Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics Department in Frankfurt in 2000. His activities ranged from in-silico approaches at very early stages of the value chain, in-vitro studies, and in vivo animal studies up to Phase I, II and III clinical studies. The whole scope of these activities... 

In 2003 he was appointed Head of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics in Paris working simulataneously in France and Germany. The main objective of his work is an intensive knowledge transfer from early parts of the value chain ( Research ) to the late stages ( Development ) and vice versa across the different disciplines. 

To withstand the threats on the record of pharmaceutical research and development productivity, numerous so-called paradigm changes have been announced over the past 10-15 years, all aimed at resolving major bottlenecks along the value chain of drug discovery [10-12],... 

Whether the end product is a pharmaceutical or a plastic bag, each industry is part of a value chain. The pharmaceutical company that markets the drug depends on fine chemicals or speciality producers to make the active pharmaceutical or its precursors. In turn, the commodity chemical companies supply the building blocks for the basic fine chemicals, whilst the refiners produce the feedstock for the commodity chemical companies. 

At the heart of most DM initiatives is a redefined relationship with the pharmaceutical industry. The pharma-company becomes the predominant partner in providing care, instead of merely providing the components of it, such as pharmaceutical products, drugs and the like. The relationship between the British NHS and pharmaceutical companies has never been really close in the same way that non-healthcare private sector manufacturers and service providers get close to their suppliers and see them as part of the value chain. 

After the discovery of a new lead compound, a pharmaceutical company needs samples (typically, in the gram to kilogram range) of the development drug for the first clinical tests, and shortly afterward, an economical and environmentally acceptable method of synthesis for the production of larger quantities. The corresponding activity is indicated as Lead Dev. in the drug development added-value chain (see the upper line in Fig. 25.9). It precedes manufacture of the NCE for clinical trials. 

Figure 4.1 Chemistry-driven target identification by phenotypic screening fit in the drug discovery value chain (boxed). Some discovery activities could (should, whenever possible) be prosecuted in parallel.

Colorimetric procedures used In steroid assays are often subject to drug Interference. In the determination of 17-Ketosterolds by the Zimmerman reaction, drugs with the 17-Keto basic structure such as ascorbic acid, morphine and reserplne will cause Increased values. In the determination of 17,21 -dlhydroxysterolds by the Porter-Sllber reaction the dlhydroxy-acetone chain Is the reactive unit. Drugs like meprobamate, chloral hydrate, chloropromazlne and potassium Iodide will Interfere with this reaction and cause elevated values. In the colorimetric determination of vanlllylmandellc acid (VMA) by a dlazo reaction, drugs like methocarbamol and methyl dopa cause... 

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