HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SOCIETY FOR MEDICINES RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM: APPROACHES TO LEAD GENERATION

摘要

Drug discovery has become increasingly difficult in the last few decades and the cost of drug development has risen relentlessly. Given the high attrition rates the industry continues to face, there is an urgent and pressing need for quality developmental leads. Essential to tackling the observed critical productivity and attrition problems are learning from past mistakes and turning information into knowledge. This will ensure the efficient prosecution of tractable targets and optimization of compounds into quality drug candidates with the ability to make it to market. The Society for Medicines Research (SMR) meeting entitled "Approaches to Lead Generation", held on June 12, 2008, assembled a diverse program of expert speakers to discuss the exciting scientific and technological opportunities that will enable today's "drug hunters" to improve the efficiency and quality of future lead generation.