The Ideal Backup Compound

If there is more than one indication for a ligand the different structural class becomes particularly attractive. Incidentally, if both the original and the backup reach the market having two different structures for two different indications, it will also help in marketing especially since the company will not have a problem with pricing it. From the current example, NK-1 antagonists are in trials for major depressive disorder (MDD), pain, and emesis, but they are all of the same class of compound. 

Even small companies should have a backup, but they more often do not. When they lose their only compound in Phase I, they have often nothing left, whereas any medium to large Pharma has 20 to 30 ongoing Phase I trials. 

Ultimately, with a stringent set of animal toxicology data, the FDA will grant the companies clinical candidate an investigational new drug (IND) status that allows it to be entered into man, that is, tested for safety in a Phase I trial to be followed by efficacy trials. 

There are no perfect molecules, and for the company the ultimate question is Is the molecule you have better than those available, and can you show this to the market and the FDA This is truly the matter. 

---