Discovering New Cancer Treatments: A Journey from Discovery to Innovation

How do we develop completely new drugs in the therapeutic field of cancer treatment? The answer is not straightforward, and it requires the extensive resources and facilities of a large pharmaceutical company or research institute, along with significant investment of tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars.

The Chemistry of Drug Discovery

Drug discovery is a complex and expensive process that involves highly skilled professionals such as molecular biologists, protein chemists, and requires a multitude of experiments and substantial financial and luck-based investments. The essence of innovation often lies in finding someone with a problem they need to solve and breaking it down into its component parts.

Understanding the Biochemical Process

For drugs, you usually start with an idea of the biochemical process you want to affect, aiming to either speed it up or slow it down. In the lock-and-key model of enzyme/substrate interaction, you might be looking for a different key to fit the lock or something to jam or block the keyhole. Alternatively, you may need to bend the key so it no longer fits the lock.

Using Computer Models and Innovation

A significant portion of the early stages of drug discovery is done using computer models of molecules. The effectiveness of these models depends on the availability of models that closely mimic the behavior of real molecules.

The Motivation Behind Re-inventing the Wheel

Many people mistakenly believe that there is a perfect, natural, and unpatentable treatment for all cancers already in existence. This misconception arises from a fundamental misunderstanding of the scientific and pharmaceutical processes involved in drug discovery and development.

Practical Knowledge and Coincidence

knowledge about biology, biopharma, and biotechnology is often supplemented by a bit of coincidence. When I started working with a company currently developing a new type of cancer treatment, I was curious about the origins of their drug. I expected a tale of serendipity, but instead, I learned about a meticulous and well-conceived process.

The Process of Invention

The drug discovery process involves a lot of thought and observation in identifying new ways to treat a condition. By understanding the body's processes and the ill or condition, you can engineer something that interferes with or enhances these interactions. For example, checkpoint inhibitors, a significant advancement in cancer treatment, work by neutralizing the immune system's ability to recognize PD-L1 proteins produced by cancer cells, allowing the immune system to take over and eliminate the cancer cells.

Engineering Solutions

Often, a discovery is made that was not initially intended. However, even in such cases, extensive work is required to convert the discovery into a viable treatment. Innovation in drug discovery is a blend of scientific knowledge, careful experimentation, and sometimes a bit of serendipity.

While natural and unpatentable treatments may seem attractive, the reality of drug development is rooted in extensive research, innovation, and a deep understanding of biological processes.