Have you ever wondered where medicines like Advil and Tylenol come from? The brands we see on the shelves of our local drugstore are such staples in our minds that it’s easy to think they just “fell from the sky.”
The reality is that these medicines take a long journey through research and development (R&D) and various government agencies before they hit the shelves and eventually wind up in our medicine cabinets.
They start their journey as investigational drugs, and that is what we’re going to talk about today.
Read on to find out what investigational drugs are and how they are changing the landscape of the medical field. We’ll also highlight three companies that are pioneering landmark discoveries in the field.
Defining Investigational Drugs
So, what are investigational drugs? Well, an investigational drug, or investigational new drug (IND), is any chemical or biological substance that is past laboratory testing by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and has been approved for clinical trials in people.
These can be both prescription and nonprescription. In some cases, they have to go through strict testing procedures because they are classified as dangerous substances. Scientists need to be very careful to determine the safest and most effective dosage.
This careful scientific process is very important in finding new treatments, medicines, and cures for various diseases and illnesses that plague society today.
Three Major Players
Companies that do this type of work are very important to the overall well-being of the world population. They are pioneering the investigational use of drugs to solve problems that, right now, seem unsolvable.
Here are three of the top companies in investigational drugs today:
1. Vertex
Vertex is a well-known name in the pharmaceutical space. Their most recent foray into the investigational use of drugs is a product called VX-659.
The pharmaceutical and investigational drugs community is excited about the implications this substance will have on cystic fibrosis. in mid-2019, it was said that this product had met its target objective of improving lung function during clinical trials.
The cystic fibrosis community is excited about what VX-659 can do for this disease.
2. Pfizer
Pfizer is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. They provide medicines in all categories, but they have been conducting some cutting-edge IND research as of late.
Their latest foray into the space is targeted at follicular lymphoma. The goal of their research is to develop a product that can diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, as well as chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
3. Roivant Sciences
Roivant Sciences is a company that specializes in IND research. They have several investigational new drug applications across a wide scope of medical disciplines, including immunology, dermatology, neurology, and respiratory disease.
Some of the illnesses that Roivant Sciences is tackling with their research are Tay-Sachs disease, Parkinson’s, Sickle Cell, and Psoriasis.
Companies like this, which are focused on IND research, are changing the landscape of medical treatment as we know it.
A New Frontier
For most of you reading this, it may be your first dive into the world of investigational drugs. Most likely, if you came across this article, it means you are searching for answers.
We hope we’ve been able to show you there are experts in their field who are out there fighting for us and our families. Knowing there are companies like this out here gives us hope.
We appreciate you stopping by our blog today. If this article helped you in any way, or it can help someone you know, please give us a share and a shoutout on your social channels. We’d greatly appreciate it, and we always love to hear from our members!
