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What digitalization in biology R&D means for biotech companies and life scientists

Nature Biotechnology volume 40, pages 1151–1153 (2022)Cite this article

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The digitalization of R&D can potentially transform the life sciences, but it cannot succeed without experts collaborating to develop a vision of what a better working environment can look like.

Biological research and development is a hugely costly business for small and emerging biotechnology companies. The median R&D cost per drug, from data collected between 2009 to 2018, is estimated at $985 million1, and it is widely accepted that new drugs average eight to nine years to reach patients2. But the life sciences industry is undergoing a transformation that is now accelerating, driven by three key factors: rising complexity, intensified competition and the urge to accelerate approval.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Synthace, London, UK

    Sybil Wong, Mingke Pan, Allen Shaw & Markus Gershater

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  1. Sybil Wong
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  2. Mingke Pan
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  3. Allen Shaw
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  4. Markus Gershater
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Correspondence to Markus Gershater.

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Wong, S., Pan, M., Shaw, A. et al. What digitalization in biology R&D means for biotech companies and life scientists. Nat Biotechnol 40, 1151–1153 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-022-01309-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-022-01309-y

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