title: A decade of innovation in pharmaceutical R&D: the Chorus model.
abstract: Chorus is a small, operationally independent clinical development organization within Eli Lilly and Company that specializes in drug development from candidate selection to clinical proof of concept. The mission of Chorus is to achieve proof of concept rapidly and at a low cost while positioning successful projects for 'pharma-quality' late-stage development. Chorus uses a small internal staff of experienced drug developers and a network of external vendors to design and implement chemistry, manufacturing and control processes, preclinical toxicology and biology, and Phase I/II clinical trials. In the decade since it was established, Chorus has demonstrated substantial productivity improvements in both time and cost compared to traditional pharmaceutical research and development. Here, we describe its development philosophy, organizational structure, operational model and results to date.
authors.affiliation: The Chorus Group, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285 USA.
authors.forename: Paul K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.affiliation: The Chorus Group, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285 USA.
authors.forename: Eyas
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Raddad
authors.affiliation: The Chorus Group, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285 USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: The Chorus Group, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285 USA.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Stille
authors.affiliation: The Chorus Group, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285 USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Olovich
authors.affiliation: The Chorus Group, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285 USA.
authors.forename: Neil V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: The Chorus Group, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285 USA.
authors.forename: Rosie S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: The Chorus Group, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285 USA.
authors.forename: Joel C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Scherer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000639:trends; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000639:trends; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D012106:Research / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*