Objective

A “networked” and collaborative approach to pharmaceutical R&D offers potential for progression of new and transformational medicines from early discovery to clinical PoC, and beyond. Defining and building a “platform of evidence” through close collaboration between pharma and biotech companies, CROs and academic centres allows early decisions to be made on opportunities for new therapies in a cost-, time-, and resource-efficient way. Through well co-ordinated activity within a given network that brings together the key components of the R&D process in a bespoke manner, more value can be generated compared to a traditional oursourcing / service approach. A networked approach brings expert scientists together and thereby brings enhanced capabilities to projects from small and large pharma, as well as start-ups and biotechs, and academic technology transfer. 

Importantly, and crucially, the platform of evidence in each case is designed to be relevant and supportive of the positioning of the potential new medicine in the anticipated future treatment paradigm. These “real world” considerations have significant implications for optimal compound selection and preclinical and translational studies. 

TherapeutAix is experienced and well positioned to support networked R&D approaches in fibrosis and niche inflammatory diseases. We will present a case study illustrating how the networked R&D approach can be applied effectively to translational studies underpinning the discovery and early development of potential therapies for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), taking into account the evolving treatment landscape.