Real World Drug Discovery: A Chemist’s Guide to Biotech and Pharmaceutical Research
February 23, 2010 by biotechconnection.com · 5 Comments
Product Description
Drug discovery increasingly requires a common understanding by researchers of the many and diverse factors that go into the making of new medicines. The scientist entering the field will immediately face important issues for which his education may not have prepared him: project teams, patent law, consultants, target product profiles, industry trends, Gantt charts, target validation, pharmacokinetics, proteomics, phenotype assays, biomarkers, and many other unfamiliar topics for which a basic understanding must somehow be obtained. Even the more experienced scientist can find it frustratingly difficult to get an overview of the many factors involved in modern drug discovery and often only after years of exploring does a whole and integrated picture emerge in the mind of the researcher.
Real World Drug Discovery: A Chemist’s Guide to Biotech and Pharmaceutical Research presents this kind of map of the landscape of drug discovery. In a single, readable volume it outlines processes and explains essential concepts and terms for the recent science graduate wondering what to expect in pharma or biotech, the medicinal chemist seeking a broader and more timely understanding of the industry, or the contractor or collaborator whose understanding of the commercial drug discovery process could increase the value of his contribution to it.
Key Features:
- Interviews with well-known experts in many of the fields involved, giving insightful comments from authorities on many of the sub-disciplines important to cutting edge drug discovery.
- Helpful suggestions gleaned from years of experience in biotech and pharma, which represents a repository drug discovery “lore” not previously available in any book.
- “Periodic Table of Drugs” listing current top-selling drugs arranged by target and laid out so that structural similarities and differences are plain and clear, with regular updates available at the book’s website.
- Extensive use of diagrams to illustrate concepts like biotech startup models, preteomic profiling for target identification, Gantt charts for project planning, etc.
Order from Amazon –> Real World Drug Discovery: A Chemist’s Guide to Biotech and Pharmaceutical Research
“Real World Drug Discovery” sounded very interesting, which is why I ordered it. It reads like a text book & is beyond my knowledge. I did mention it to my son, who’s working on his Master’s in Cellular Biology. He said it sounded like a book he’d be interested in – so its on its way to Dallas.
Rating: 5 / 5
A chemistry degree or even a post-doc is the ticket to the dance; you won’t land in the pharma or biotech industry without it. However, once you have a job within this specialized field you’ll find that much more is required to excel. A working knowledge of other disciplines–scientific and non-scientific alike–is needed. One may find that what you weren’t taught and don’t know is as deep a pool as your knowledge base–and wider. Adequate cross-disciplinary apprenticeship may take up to fifteen years. School is not out quite just yet.
The new researcher needs a practical guidebook to help him or her navigate these waters. Real World Drug Discovery is just such a short-cut toward accelerated career growth. The author has nearly 30 years of broad experience with major companies in the field, as well as extensive involvement in both the academic and government environments. You can trust this guiding hand. The table of contents is helpful and detailed for ready reference. Fully indexed.
Rating: 5 / 5
Good book, talks about things from both the scientific and economic standpoint, which are critical elements in drug discovery. Although written for the scientific reader, this is also invaluable to a prospective or current investor in pharmaceuticals (assuming they at least have some background in the sciences) since it makes you understand the processes involved in getting drugs to the market. Chapters are well written to spool you up on terminology that you may have forgotten, so I appreciated this as it’s been years since I’ve been out of the synthesis labs.
Rating: 5 / 5
This is a textbook like book that is way, way beyond me. I’m guessing you’d have to be an upper division Chem student, or an engineer of some kind to be able to grasp what’s between these pages. Fortunately, I know some people in Trinidad who would really get some use out of this book.
My hubby Dub and I live half the year on a sailboat in the Caribbean and we know some guys who work offshore on oil rigs, who we see quite often when we’re in Trinidad. We brought them down a pipeline book and this one as well. One guy, in particular, was very pleased with this book. He has a son starting Med school and he says this would be right up his alley.
Our friends down there say this is a five star book all the way and I’m going to have to defer to them in their rating, as they are vastly more qualified than me when it comes to a book like this. If you’re thinking about purchasing this book, I hope what I’ve said helps and I’m sorry I couldn’t be a little more informative about it.
Review submitted by Captain Katie Osborne
Rating: 5 / 5
This book is an excellent resource for those wanting to understand the development cycle of pharmaceuticals and the factors that influence discovery, development, testing, approval, and marketing.
Having diabetes, I participate in pharmaceutical studies. Nothing on the market has ever been able to truly get my A1C where it needs to be despite careful diet, exercise, changing physicians, and being vigilant about not missing my medications. I most enjoyed the “Periodic Table of Drugs”.
I have had many friends who work in the pharmaceutical industry, and this book expanded my knowledge and helped me to better understand the industry and how it works.
If you have a good understanding of chemistry, biology, and business, you’ll be able to understand and appreciate this book. Pre-med students who are interested in medicine but not necessarily a career as a physician might get some good ideas on other career paths from this book. Gifted high school students interested in a career in Bio-Technology might also get something out of this, but for those without a background or education in science might find this a difficult read at times.
Rating: 5 / 5