Drug Discovery and Development:

Perspectives from big Pharma and Biotech

Jeanette M. Wood

A Career in Drug Discovery and Development: a Global Journey

Jeanette M Wood

My Journey• Born and educated in New Zealand

– PhD in Pharmacology, Otago University, Dunedin, NZ• 1st Job, as Post-Doc @ Cardivascular Research, Ciba-Geigy, Switzerland

– Permanent job 2 years later– 26 years of service @ same company, 3 name changes: CIBA-GEIGY, CIBA,

Novartis– 2 therapeutic areas: cardiovascular, cancer– Roles: Project Leader/Group Leader/Compound Champion/Mentor

• S*BIO, Singapore‘s first home-grown small molecule drug discovery company– Cancer and autoimmune diseases, 5 years, 6 drugs discovered, 4 in development– Role: Head of Biology/Senior Management Team Member/Mentor

• AstraZenca, Alderley Edge, United Kingdom– Cancer, 2 years, broad small molecule portfolio– Role: Head of small molecule drug discovery for Oncology/Mentor

• Genkyotex, Geneva, Switzerland– NADPH oxidase inhibitors for inflammatory and fibrotic diseases– Role: CSO/Mentor

• Scientific Adviser, Board Director, Mentor (Global)

Cancer

BlindnessArthritis

Diseases

Fibrosis

Offspring

Press

• Published papers 140• Reviews >30• Invited lectures > 50• Patents > 30

75th Anniversary Special Issue

FortuneJuly, 2005

So what is drug discovery and development?

8

Drug Discovery and Development

• a costly and time consuming process• 0.5-2 billion dollars to bring a new drug (New Chemical Entities, NCE) to

market varies (includes the cost of all drug development which did not result in a new drug)

Stages and Expertise along the Discovery and Development Pathway

Assay Dev LeadIdentification Lead Opt Pre-

clinical Phase I, II, IIITarget

Identification and Validation

Functional GenomicsGene Knockout Bioinformatics

Protein BiochemistryMolecular and Cell

Biology

Biochemical and Cell Based Assay Development

High Throughput and Fragment Based Screening

Biological NMR expertiseChemistry:

Medicinal, Computational and Analytical

Physiochemical Profiling

In Vitro and In VivoADME assays

In Vitro and In Vivo Disease

ModelsBiomarker

discovery and validation

SafetyToxicology

GMP synthesesFormulation

Patent/Intellectual Property

BiomarkersClinical Operations

Advanced ToxicologyFormulation

Chemical DevelopmentRegulatory Affairs

Phase IV

Multi-discipline: Chemists, molecular modellers, molecular biologists, cell biologists, animal pharmacologists, informaticians, toxicologists, physicians, project managers and coordinators, lawyers, business, finance

Big PharmaPros

• Specialized learning and training opportunities • Access to wide range of state of art technologies• Chance to work in multidisciplinary teams• Chance to work globally and across cultures• Chance to transition from research to other functions

Cons• Can be put in a specialist box which is hard to get out of • Many layers of management• Little or no contact with higher levels• Slow decision making, too many meetings• Bureaucracy and processes• Creativity can be quenched• Promotion can take a long time• Better chance to be promoted by joining another company

BioTechPros

• Flater organisations, few layers• See all functions, including business side, broad learning• Direct contact with upper management• Faster decision making• Rapid progress• More chance to have an impact on company• Easier to progress to higher management level

Cons•Budget limited• Specialized training not usually given, learning on the job•May not have access to state of art equipment•Will depend on outsourcing/outside collaborations to get everything done

•Few benefits unless stock options pay off (long term)• Companies can have a short life

A Career in Drug Discovery:Favourable Attributes

• Interest in applied research

• Desire to help patients

• Creativity

• Ability to team work and collaboration

• “Can do“ attitude

• Flexibility

• Willingness to learn new thigs

• Determination/perseverance

• Organisational skills

Author | 00 Month Year13

Set area descriptor | Sub level 1

Find your StrengthsDo You Do What You Do Best Every Day?• Probably not! • From birth we are pressured to devote more time to fixing

our shortcomings than to developing our strengths.• When you are doing the work you love with the strengths you

have, you will have higher productivity, enjoyment, and results

Books:• Strengths Based Leadership by Tom Rath and Barry Conchie

• Go Put Your Strengths to Work: 6 Powerful Steps to Achieve Outstanding Performance by Marcus Buckingham

Free internet strength finder tests http://www.personal-success-factors.com/6-best-free-strengths-test-sites/

A Career in Drug Discovery

Enjoy a global journey

• Your work benefits patients around the world

• Your work can take you around the world

• You work with people around the world

– But it is a world that is constantly changing and demands creativity, flexibility, hard work and determination

Create a start up

• Fill a space not covered by big pharma• Several sources of initial funding and

mentoring available in Switzerlandhttp://www.ctistartup.ch/media/filer_public/2012/0

5/30/ctinetwork_seed_funding_may2011.pdf

End of my Journey

Thank You