The Science and Business of Drug Discovery

The Science and Business of Drug Discovery is written for those who want to learn about the biopharmaceutical industry and its products whatever their level of technical knowledge. Its aim is to demystify the jargon used in drug development, but in a way that avoids over simplification and the resulting loss of key information. Each of the nineteen chapters is illustrated with figures and tables which clarify some of the more technical points being made. Also included is a drug discovery case history which draws the relevant material together into a single chapter. In recognizing that it is difficult to navigate through the many external resources dealing with drug development, the book has been written to guide the reader towards the most appropriate information sources, including those listed in the two appendices.

The following topics are covered:

• Different types of drugs: from small molecules to stem cells
• Background to chemistry of small and large molecules
• Historical background to drug discovery, pharmacology and biotechnology
• The drug discovery pipeline: from target discovery to marketed medicine
• Commercial aspects of drug discovery
• Challenges to the biopharmaceutical industry and its responses
• Material of specific interest to technology transfer executives, recruiters and pharmaceutical translators.

From the reviews:

“‘The Science and Business of Drug Discovery: Demystifying the Jargon’ is an engaging, comprehensive and straightforward review of drug discovery and development. The book is ideal for anyone who wants to understand how their work fits into the overall scheme or needs to communicate with people from other specialties.” (Norman M. Goldfarb, Journal of Clinical Research Best Practices, Vol. 8 (4), April, 2012)

“A ‘thorough review of the technical and business aspects of drug discovery that can be understood by a reader with little scientific knowledge.’ … Zanders tries to use as little jargon as possible in explaining how drugs work, and he provides case histories of certain drugs. … each chapter can stand alone, letting readers choose what interests them. Enhancing the text are an excellent glossary and suggestions for further reading. … Summing Up: Recommended. Chemistry, pharmacy, and medical collections supporting upper-level undergraduates and above.” (N. Kupferberg, Choice, Vol. 49 (5), January, 2012)

“The book excellently highlights many scientific and technological developments, breakthroughs, and their impacts on pharmaceutical R&D at its various stages and thus provides interesting reading for students, professionals, and even experts in scientific disciplines relevant to drug discovery and development … . the book can also be recommended as excellent reading to all those who would like to break through the walls of esotericism of the many disciplines and technologies or expert circles involved in the pharmaceutical business.” (Klaus Müller, ChemMedChem, Vol. 7, 2012)

Dr. Edward D. Zanders has over twenty years’ experience as a scientist and research manager in both a major pharmaceutical company and in smaller biotechnology organizations. He has been responsible for a number of drug discovery programs for diseases such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis and has been involved in research management at a senior level. He has also published extensively on subjects ranging from biochemistry and immunology to computer-aided drug design; more recently he has written about the application of online networking to drug discovery. In 2004 he founded PharmaGuide Ltd, a training and consultancy company that delivers courses on the drug discovery industry to various professional groups including technology transfer executives, recruiters and technical translators. It is through delivering these courses that he has been able to develop his own way of conveying complex information about drug discovery to non scientists, while at the same time being able to communicate with PhD level scientists at their level of expertise.