FUTURE TRENDS IN DRUG DEVELOPMENT

In line with the pharmaceutical industry’s overwhelming need for research and development, pharmaceutical R&D spending is among the highest in the country. Until the turn of the millennium, pharmaceutical R&D worldwide was traditionally conducted in a large corporate framework.
In recent decades, however, there has been a significant shift in this segment, with early R&D projects often originating in the university-academic and SME sectors. In addition to the organisational framework, the technical content of development has changed, with biological therapies playing an increasingly important role alongside traditional small molecule drugs, and the development of active substances has become linked to the development of relevant diagnostics. There have also been important changes in the way projects are funded, with an increasing role for public RDI funding and (venture) capital investments.
In our country, these changes are also noticeable, but the institutional system has not yet mapped the organisational, operational and funding changes that these changes entail. The university-academic, SME and large enterprise sectors continue to try to cope with the changed conditions largely on their own.

In response to the 21st century drug research and development trends and requirements and the increased demands of society, we proposed the establishment of a National Pharmaceutical Research and Development Laboratory (PharmaLab), led by the Natural Sciences Research Centre, as a consortium of three universities, BME, ELTE, PTE, SZBK and KOKI.

The PharmaLab National Laboratory implements its activities in four pillars, reflecting the indications affecting a broad population in Hungary and the developed world, and the key directions of drug research and development.

Molecular oncology pillar: using analysis of large genomic and transcriptomic databases, we identify clinically applicable therapeutic options for patients with solid tumours who are either currently unresectable or resistant to available treatments.
Neuropharmacology pillar: with a focus on neurodegenerative diseases, our main objectives are neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation research, the development of novel translational protocols and related human MR biomarker research.
Biotechnology pillar: We will explore diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities for pandemic infections, tumour and autoimmune diseases by developing DNA/RNA-based and protein (antibody) based diagnostic and therapeutic antibodies and developing semi-simultaneous technologies.
Drug Development Technology pillar: We develop innovative methods for the preclinical development and production of drug substances. Our aim is to develop industrial-scale processes and formulation technologies that improve the delivery and efficacy of active substances to the target and the efficiency of their use, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of the domestic pharmaceutical industry.

PROJECT DETAILS
Duration of the project: 01.03.2022 – 28.02.2026
Grant awarded: HUF 5.4 billion (at consortium level)
Projektazonosító: RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00015