Here’s to Shared Successes!
The Medicine Maker celebrates its third birthday – and the exciting changes shaping drug development
The first issue of The Medicine Maker went to print in September 2014. Back then, we were passionate about reporting on the personalities shaping drug development and manufacture (and we still are!) – but there was some apprehension. Was there any space for a new voice? Would the industry enjoy reading the stories we wanted to tell? Three years and 33 issues later, we are still very much here, so the answer was evidently “Yes!” to both questions. Over that time, I have felt honored to share the stories of industry experts and scientists – from Nobel Prize winning scientist David Baltimore, to supply chain expert Martin Van Trieste, to a driving force behind the UK’s cell therapy manufacturing activity (1)(2)(3) – the late Richard Archer, who sadly passed away in 2016.
As well as showcasing personalities and achievements, we have also reported on some of the biggest breakthroughs in drug development. Three years ago, there was no malaria vaccine, no cure for Hepatitis C, and no approved CAR-T therapy – in fact, there was still skepticism about whether CAR-T therapies would ever make it to market at all, and whether big pharma would embrace the development and manufacturing challenges of advanced medicines. It is still early days for CAR-T therapies, but there’s plenty of optimism.
On the manufacturing side, equipment and technologies continue to advance, and we love showcasing the top technologies every year in The Medicine Maker Innovation Awards (4). Right now, there is much attention focusing on drug costs, and how more efficient manufacture and facility usage can make the most expensive medicines – biopharmaceuticals – more accessible. Some companies are considering the move to continuous bioprocesses in a bid to decrease manufacturing footprints, be more flexible, and improve product consistency. And though efforts and technologies are in the early stages right now, it will be interesting to see how they pan out – and how regulators react.
A big change on the near horizon is showcased in this month’s cover feature. Serialization initiatives have been under discussion for years, but crunch time is close. The changes will likely bring some confusion, hopefully consolidation, but ultimately will lead to safer supply chains for all.
We will continue to track the pharma industry’s evolution – and I am in no way concerned about a dearth of material. Of the many conversations I have had with industry stakeholders recently, there is a consensus that the industry is at tipping point for several important breakthroughs. Exciting times lie ahead, and The Medicine Maker is happy to join you on the journey.
Stephanie Sutton
Editor
- S Sutton, “The Joy of Discovery: Sitting Down with… David Baltimore”, The Medicine Maker, 11, 50-51 (2015). Available at: bit.ly/2xaYYtJ.
- M Van Trieste, “Global Vigilance”, The Medicine Maker, 27, 20-27 (2017). Available at: bit.ly/2l8gbi2.
- R Archer, “Precision Medicine; Imprecise Manufacturing and Supply”, The Medicine Maker, 14, 38-41 (2015). Available at: bit.ly/2ybkhs5.
- The Medicine Maker, “The Innovation Awards 2017” (2017). Available at: tmm.txp.to/2017/innovationawards.
Making great scientific magazines isn’t just about delivering knowledge and high quality content; it’s also about packaging these in the right words to ensure that someone is truly inspired by a topic. My passion is ensuring that our authors’ expertise is presented as a seamless and enjoyable reading experience, whether in print, in digital or on social media. I’ve spent fourteen years writing and editing features for scientific and manufacturing publications, and in making this content engaging and accessible without sacrificing its scientific integrity. There is nothing better than a magazine with great content that feels great to read.
