From Concept to Medicine - A Comprehensive Drug Development Journey

Podcast episodes

• Season 1

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  1 - Introduction to Drug Development (S1E1)

  1 - Introduction to Drug Development (S1E1)

  S01 E01

  Mar 17, 2025

  28:19

  Embark on a journey through the intricate world of drug development, from the spark of an idea to a life-changing medication available at your local pharmacy. Discover the crucial stages of this process, including discovery, preclinical testing, clinical trials, regulatory hurdles, and post-market surveillance. We'll unravel the complexities of each step, revealing the collaborative efforts of scientists, engineers, and regulatory experts. This episode also introduces Quality by Design (QbD), a groundbreaking approach that emphasizes building quality into every stage, ensuring safer and more effective medicines for all. Join us as we demystify the drug development process, highlighting the challenges, triumphs, and the unwavering commitment to improving human health. From the initial "eureka" moment to the rigorous scrutiny of regulatory bodies, we'll explore how a drug candidate progresses through the pipeline. Understand the importance of preclinical research in evaluating safety and efficacy, and delve into the different phases of clinical trials, from small groups of healthy volunteers to large-scale studies involving diverse patient populations. Learn how QbD principles are revolutionizing the industry, ensuring that every step of the process is driven by science, data, and a patient-centric approach. This episode provides a comprehensive roadmap of drug development, laying the groundwork for a deeper dive into specific aspects in future episodes.

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  2- History of Drug Discovery (S1E2)

  2- History of Drug Discovery (S1E2)

  S01 E02

  Mar 17, 2025

  26:32

  Step back in time and explore the fascinating history of drug discovery, from ancient remedies and traditional healing practices to the cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs of today. Trace the evolution of medicine from trial-and-error methods to the systematic, science-based approaches that drive modern drug development. Discover how ancient civilizations utilized plants and minerals for healing, and how those practices, though often rooted in beliefs, sometimes held genuine therapeutic value. We'll examine key milestones like the discovery of penicillin and the development of aspirin, showcasing the serendipitous moments and painstaking research that have shaped modern medicine. This episode also delves into the rise of rational drug design and the impact of scientific advancements in chemistry and biology. Explore how scientists began to isolate and synthesize active compounds, moving from natural sources to the controlled environment of the laboratory. We'll touch on high-throughput screening and microfluidics, technologies that have revolutionized drug discovery, allowing scientists to test thousands of compounds in a fraction of the time. Join us as we celebrate the ingenuity and perseverance of those who have paved the way for the life-saving medications we rely on today.

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  3 - From Idea to Target Selection (S1E3)

  3 - From Idea to Target Selection (S1E3)

  S01 E03

  Mar 17, 2025

  15:07

  Uncover the intricate process of selecting a drug target, the crucial first step in developing new medications. Explore how unmet medical needs and profound biological insights spark drug ideas and guide researchers in their quest to identify the perfect target. This episode delves into the world of models, explaining how mechanistic, empirical, and hybrid models help scientists make sense of the complex landscape of the human body. We'll use clear analogies to explain these concepts, making this complex topic accessible to all. Learn about the challenges of finding a druggable target, one that is not only involved in the disease process but also accessible and selective for drug interaction. Discover how researchers validate their targets, gathering evidence to support their hypotheses. We'll also explore how computational modeling is revolutionizing target selection, allowing scientists to predict druggability and prioritize the most promising candidates. Join us as we unravel the complexities of target selection, revealing the delicate balance between science, intuition, and the unwavering pursuit of effective therapies.

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  4 - Pharmacology Basics: How Drugs Work (S1E4)

  4 - Pharmacology Basics: How Drugs Work (S1E4)

  S01 E04

  Mar 17, 2025

  14:20

  Have you ever swallowed a pill and wondered how that tiny thing actually works inside your body? In this episode, we'll unravel the fascinating world of pharmacology, exploring the intricate ways drugs interact with our biological systems. Discover the key players in this microscopic drama – receptors and enzymes – and learn how drugs can either mimic or block their actions. We'll explain the importance of selectivity in drug design, emphasizing how scientists strive to minimize off-target effects and maximize the desired therapeutic impact. We'll also delve into different mechanisms of drug action, from altering the chemical environment within the body to physically binding to target molecules. Explore how mathematical modeling is revolutionizing drug development, allowing researchers to simulate drug behavior and predict outcomes before even stepping foot in a lab. Finally, we'll touch upon personalized medicine, a groundbreaking approach that tailors treatments to individual patients, taking into account their unique genetic makeup and other factors. Join us for a deep dive into the inner workings of drugs, revealing the intricate science behind these powerful molecules.

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  5 – Overview of Drug Discovery Process (S1E5)

  5 – Overview of Drug Discovery Process (S1E5)

  S01 E05

  Mar 17, 2025

  17:37

  This episode maps the intricate journey of drug discovery, from identifying a promising molecule (the "hit") to refining it into a potential drug candidate (the "lead"). We'll explore the key stages of this process, including high-throughput screening, where robots test thousands of compounds simultaneously, and lead optimization, where medicinal chemists fine-tune the structure and properties of promising molecules. We'll also revisit the importance of Quality by Design (QbD) and critical quality attributes (CQAs), highlighting how these principles guide every step of the discovery process. Using the real-world example of L-glutamic acid, we'll illustrate the challenges of controlling crystallization and the importance of selecting the right polymorph for optimal drug performance. Discover how scientists navigate the complex landscape of drug discovery, balancing scientific rigor with creative problem-solving. This episode provides a comprehensive overview of the early stages of drug development, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of preclinical and clinical testing in future episodes.