Coherent Market Insights
Drug Discovery Involves Determination of Target Site, Rigorous Research, High Investment,
and Longer R&D Time
In the areas of pharmacology, biology, and medicine, drug discovery is essentially the procedure by
which new prospective drug candidates are discovered. During the process, numerous steps are
taken to reduce the risks associated with such discoveries, from early research and development to
regulatory approvals, and marketing strategies.
It can take years and high investment for a new drug to reach the market. The cost of drug
development was US$ 2.6 billion, which included average out-of-pocket costs of US$ 1.4 billion
and time costs of US$ 1.2 billion, according to a study by the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug
Development published in the Journal of Health Economics in May 2019. Therefore, players in the
market are focused on effective R&D of new drugs. For instance, in March 2021, Kyowa Kirin Co,
Ltd., a Japan-based pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, collaborated with Harvard
University to accelerate discovery and early-stage innovation in translational biomedical science.
The science behind drug discovery is intricate. It starts with the determination of the target site of
action of any therapeutic agent. Once this has been determined, the next step is to look for a suitable
drug substance that will fit this precise metabolic pattern. Several factors come into play during this
process. First of all, the metabolism must be correctly controlled in order to bring about the correct
and defined release of the target substance at the right time.
Drug discovery requires rigorous research. It may start with the identification of a suitable
metabolic pathway or target organ. This involves establishing a connection between the observed
clinical manifestations and the presence of a drug that may effectively target the organ concerned.
Drug development then seeks to exploit the nature of the relationship between the drug and the
target