As the healthcare focus worldwide is shifting from population diseases to individual health, creation of specific drug profiles and with the increasing complexities in the bio-systems, the pharmaceutical industry around the world has wide and serious challenges to face in the future. Moreover, as the access to health related information and diagnosis technologies is easier, right technologies are required to be applied in conducting research to identify the right targets, says Prof Bernward Schoelkens, Head of Strategic Site Projects, Drug Innovation and Approval, Aventis Pharma, Germany.

In the field of translational medicine, applying emerging biomarkers in proof of concept, rational dose finding and safety assessment would prove significant. R&D investment though not sufficient to meet the needs, has been growing worldwide. Biotech drugs are increasing in number the world over. Biotech companies are today paying more attention to oncology diseases of CNS, anti-infective and metabolic diseases.

System biology will become a dominant area for research. It will contribute to develop predictive and preventive medicines. The wide gap between input and output of innovative drugs has to be bridged. Insights into system biology will change the face of research, Professor added.

Biomarkers are keenly sought nowadays, and we need them to build a link between diagnostics and prognostics agents. Diagnostic tests of cancer can help in reducing the risk in patients. Biomarkers can also define the stage of disease and the drugs required. Vaccine research should be taken up in areas such as asthma. Pharmacogenomics leads to discovery of clinically relevant druggable targets, increase confidence in target selection, development of biomarkers. Nanomedicines are also slowly gaining importance.

On the future trend, Prof Bernward said that between the periods 1999-2009 nutraceuticals, surgery, robotics, imaging and replacement of hearts would be key. During 2009-2024 heart exchange, neo organs, ‘just in time’ knowledge would become common, and between 2024-2049 hand-held genomic scanners and replacement hearts would emerge.

In the cardiovascular diseases front, limited diagnostic tools were seen in the past, and today there is an enhanced understanding of clinical pathology, and in the coming years, attacking molecular and cellular mechanisms will become very much possible. This would lead the path from treatment to prevention of diseases.