Translational research by budding scientists in the pharmaceutical and
biotechnological field demands the application of their knowledge to a bedside medical
problem. Career opportunities in the pharmaceutical sector range from bench-side
research which includes screening, discovery and development, and operational
activities to manufacture, quality control, and marketing, including pharmacovigilance.
The success of trials leading to commercialization is determined by the quality of
research conducted in academia with the ultimate goal of moving the product ahead.
Early career researchers should have a deep understanding of pharmaceutical products,
particularly advanced drug delivery systems (DDS). Advanced DDS such as niosomes,
liposomes, dendrimers, nanoparticles, and others are developed to increase drug
distribution and bioavailability. DDS can accomplish localized or systemic drug
distribution by careful selection of excipients. DDS could be used to deliver all types of
therapeutic molecules, including biological macromolecules, to the site of action with
more stability. However, one must be aware of several factors, including the
physicochemical properties of the drug, formulation parameters, physiological
considerations, intersubject variability, and the choice of an appropriate animal model
for in vivo studies. In addition, the in vitro and in-vivo correlation (IVIVC) should be
considered, as it confidently converts the bench trial to a market level for bedside
applications. Accordingly, this review focuses on factors that influence drug delivery,
approaches to drug delivery systems, excipient selection strategies, ways to translate
the pilot scale to industrial scale, and the basic requirements of the pharmaceutical
sector for product commercialization. Furthermore, this chapter will also discuss some
of the possible funding avenues to nurture drug discovery and development to motivate
early-career entrepreneurs.
Keywords: Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API), ADMET, Biosimilar, Bioavailability, BA/BE Studies, Clinical research, Drug delivery system, Excipients, Early career researchers (ECR), Innovation, Inter-subject Variability, In vitro- In vivo Correlation (IVIVC), Pharmaceuticals, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, Pre-clinical Research, Toxicity.
