title: Success in translational research: lessons from the development of bortezomib.
abstract: The high price of many innovative drugs, which is in part due to the considerable expense and risk involved in drug development, underlines the need for more efficient approaches to bring drugs to the market, with more effective translational research in particular identified as an important part of such strategies. Here, the development of the cancer drug bortezomib (Velcade; Millennium Pharmaceuticals) by a biotechnology company - Myogenics/ProScript - started by academics from Harvard University is discussed to dissect the key academia-industry/public sector-private sector interactions that made the development of this drug a success despite many barriers. A model to explain how and why bortezomib was approved in record time is presented, and areas for public-policy initiatives to improve translational research in general are highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Organization of American States, Brookline, Massachusetts 02446, USA. ibis.sanchezserrano@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ibis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Serrano
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001897:Boronic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069286:Bortezomib; D004345:Drug Industry; D018973:Intellectual Property; D018803:Models, Economic; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000187:drug effects; D010600:Pharmacology / Q000639:trends; D010601:Pharmacology, Clinical / Q000639:trends; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012106:Research / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001897:Boronic Acids; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011719:Pyrazines; D000069286:Bortezomib