The development of a pharmaceutical is a complex and lengthy process, requiring large teams of people from different scientific backgrounds to work together in a time-pressured environment. Time to market and costs are significant areas of focus: the high attrition rate is a problematic but unavoidable aspect of this industry. There is still unmet medical need in certain areas and therefore good medicines will still make money. Sustainable manufacturing is not easy to achieve but it is necessary to ensure the continuation of this vital industry.
Recommended reading:
D. Taylor, in Pharmaceuticals in the Environment, eds. R. E. Hester and R. M. Harrison, Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, UK, 2015, ch. 1, pp. 1-33.
