The high cost and high failure rate of drug discovery are well documented (see this from Tufts Centre for the Study of Drug Development).
Nearly 43% of drug candidates fail due to efficacy problems, 33% due to
safety concerns and 11% due to pharmacokinetic issues during
development. Further, approved and marketed drugs are being withdrawn
due to concerns regarding long-term safety, with 94% of such withdrawals
due to toxicity. Seems like a losing proposition. But there are a lot
of smart people working in the global pharmaceutical market, which is
valued at US$880 billion and is expected to grow five to seven percent
in 2011.To read the full, original article click on this link: MaRS Blog – Innovation and Commercialization in Canada
