In this webinar, Professor Alexander Breeze provided historical context for the development of modern biopharmaceutical drug discovery pathways. He compared and contrasted the evolution of biologics (large molecule) development with that of ‘traditional’ small molecule pharma R&D, from which the biopharmaceuticals processes have largely been modelled and adapted.

Professor Breeze explored the scientific and clinical challenges, attrition/risk profiles, economic drivers, and licensing approaches across the key stages in discovery and development for the two contrasting modalities of therapeutic agent. This webinar highlighted the factors behind the rapid rise in prominence of biopharmaceuticals, as well as the reasons that, despite this apparent conquest by biologics, small molecule therapeutics will remain an important tool in the clinician’s armoury.

Invited Speaker:

• Professor Alexander L. Breeze, Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, University of Leeds

This webinar was chaired by Professor Lynne Cox, University of Oxford and member of the Biochemical Society's Clinical and Translational Research Theme Panel.