Transforming R&D

In 2004, GSK invested more than £2.8 billion - 15.9% of pharmaceutical turnover - in Research and Development (R&D)	No.1 investor in R&D among UK companies 15,037 R&D employees worldwide
"Ten years ago, we conducted 500,000 screening tests in a year. In 2004, we ran more than 65 million tests in our screening facilities" Bob Hertzberg, Vice President, Molecular Screening, Discovery Research, Upper Providence, US

GSK's continuing success depends on a vibrant and productive Research and Development (R&D) function.

It takes well over £500 million and between 10 and 12 years to develop a new drug. For every million compounds screened, approximately 250 make it to pre-clinical testing, 10 advance to clinical trials and just one is approved for patient use.

With these odds, GSK's R&D must be fast and accurate in its screening, identification, development and testing of new quality compounds if it is to meet the needs of patients.

Focus on patient needs
R&D's starting point is always the real and unmet needs of patients. The information gleaned from consultation with patients, their doctors, key opinion leaders and experts in the health sector is used to shape GSK's drug development programme.

Innovative ways of working
R&D's flexible and innovative structure, introduced at the formation of GSK, allows it to concentrate resources where they will have the maximum impact and benefit the most patients.

Each of R&D's seven Centres of Excellence for Drug Discovery (CEDDs) is focused on a specific disease area. Because of their smaller scale and focus, the CEDDs are able to make rapid and informed decisions about whether to progress a compound to mid- and late-stage development. The strength of GSK's pipeline is an early sign that this innovative approach is working.

Building on the successful CEDD structure, in 2004, R&D introduced six Medicine Development Centres (MDCs). Their remit is to streamline decision-making and maximise the worldwide development opportunities for each product. The MDCs are responsible for managing compounds from the proof-of-concept stage, through mid- and late-stage development (Phases II and III) to manufacturing and marketing. The MDCs collaborate at an early stage with the CEDDs. By integrating the technical development and manufacturing functions, GSK can ensure the rapid and effective launch and delivery of products to the patients who need them.

Partnerships and collaborations There will always be more opportunities to develop new medicines and vaccines than resources to exploit them. One way that R&D can maximise its return on investment is through partnerships and collaborations with academic institutions, and other pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. These partnerships work on the principle of shared risk and reward for the partners, through in-licensing and third-party arrangements. This allows GSK to co-develop or co-market compounds that we consider would enhance our product portfolio. GSK is one of the largest collaborators in the pharmaceutical industry, with a network of more than 50 collaborators/partners.

"Using the latest in ultra high-throughput screening robotic systems at Tres Cantos in Spain, we will be able to do 300,000 experiments a day, as well as manage the large amount of information gathered" Emilio Diez, Director, Discovery Research Automation Facilities

Imaging techniques: Imaging techniques are providing increasingly accurate predictions of the clinical effect of potential medicines early on in the development process. The objective is to save time and money, and to increase the chances of success in the subsequent clinical trials.				Automation: The automation of our chemical-synthesis and molecule-screening operations is intended to take up to two years off the drug discovery process. New facilities are fully operational in Tres Cantos, Spain and in Harlow, UK. In 2004, GSK opened a new combined facility for high-throughput screening of drug targets and high-throughput chemistry in Upper Providence, US.
Electronic data capture: The greater use of electronic capture of clinical trial data is allowing scientists to be more productive throughout the development process.				Pharmacogenetics: Pharmacogenetics is being applied in early clinical trials to identify the types of patients most likely to benefit from a potential drug. The goal is to define more precisely the populations to be enrolled in subsequent, larger clinical trials.