Have you ever thought about how medicines are developed?
It’s a long journey that begins in the laboratory. A potential drug is either synthesised in the chemical laboratory or extracted from plant/animal cells. It can also be derived from other biological sources, such as microorganisms.
This newly discovered compound is undergoing thorough research to understand and explore its structure, properties, and potential biological activities that could qualify it as a <<future medicine>>.
All this development is not by chance but the result of intentional efforts to develop a medicine that can help millions of patients worldwide.
The potential medicine is called << New Chemical Entity (NCE) >>. It is then further evaluated in a laboratory through a series of experiments to assess its potential use and to develop it into a medicinal product, such as tablets, capsules, or injections. It undergoes a series of animal experiments to evaluate its safety. The potential medicinal product must demonstrate biological effects; therefore, experiments are designed to evaluate its biological activity. The potential medicine’s ability to alter a physiological function could lead to its development as a medicinal product. The criteria for developing the medicinal product are based on its quality, effectiveness and safety profile. Therefore, the potential medicinal products undergo a series of various research programmes in human subjects. All these research programmes are governed by strict laws and ethical research guidelines, ensuring the safety and rights of human subjects. The research and development cycle varies anywhere from 10 to 15 years, depending on the type of disease being targeted and the results obtained at each stage. More than 10,000 compounds are researched daily, of which 1 could become a medicinal product. It’s a long journey that requires a huge investment in money, human capital, laboratories, hospitals, doctors, and so on. Not to forget, several man-hours with an unending zeal and passion for the discovery of medicines, the passion that encompasses the highest human value, to give hope to millions of sufferers across the globe.
When you pick up the medicine next time from the pharmacy, even if it is the most commonly used painkiller that relieves your headache instantly, remember it is a product developed by scientists and their support teams who are unknown to the world and continue to treat several people daily across the globe.
Warm regards
Team roots-simplified