Connecting the science and the business of drug innovation
Oct 31, 2024
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Judith Finegold, a biopharmaceutical analyst at Capital Group and former cardiologist, shares her insights on drug innovation and investment. She discusses the years of research behind blockbuster drugs like Ozempic, the evolving landscape of drug pricing, and the shift towards advanced therapies. Topics include the promise of genetic sequencing in drug discovery, the impact of GLP-1 drugs in treating obesity, and the transformative role of antibody drug conjugates in cancer care. Finegold emphasizes the necessity of understanding both science and business for successful investing in biopharma.
Advancements from the Human Genome Project have drastically lowered genome sequencing costs, fostering diverse investment opportunities in biopharma.
Successful biopharma investments hinge on understanding complex healthcare pricing dynamics, particularly for emerging drugs targeting obesity and diabetes.
Deep dives
The Golden Age of Drug Discovery
The current biopharmaceutical landscape is experiencing a significant transformational period marked by advancements in drug discovery. Innovations stemming from the Human Genome Project have allowed for a rapid decrease in the cost of genome sequencing, now available for just over $100 compared to the original $2 billion. This transformation has expanded investment opportunities within biotechnology, pivoting from limited small-molecule treatments to a diverse array of drug platforms, including gene therapy and RNA targeting. The industry is hopeful that these advancements will signal a resurgence in research and development efficiency, potentially marking the beginning of a new era in biopharma.
Understanding Pricing Dynamics
Pricing dynamics in the healthcare industry are complex, particularly concerning the introduction and reimbursement of new drugs. Successful investments in biopharma require a nuanced understanding of these pricing structures, especially for drugs targeting obesity and diabetes, like GLP-1 agonists. These medications are proving to be highly effective at significant weight loss, which also positively influences other health metrics, leading to potential reconsideration of their reimbursement status. However, economic pressures and varying healthcare systems highlight ongoing challenges in ensuring accessibility and affordability for these revolutionary therapies.
Advancements in Antibody Drug Conjugates
Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) are at the forefront of cancer treatment innovation, allowing for targeted delivery of chemotherapy to cancer cells, enhancing efficacy while minimizing side effects. Despite initial excitement and investment in ADCs, the landscape is evolving with increased competition from emerging companies, particularly from China, which are developing effective ADCs more quickly. Historical examples, like the success of Roche's Katsila and Seattle Genetics (now CGen), underscore the challenges and intricacies of ADC development due to their complex molecular structures. The competitive environment requires investors to focus on companies with strong capabilities and innovative approaches to drug delivery, highlighting the importance of finding a sustainable competitive advantage.
The Impact of AI on Biopharma
Artificial intelligence is poised to revolutionize the biopharmaceutical industry by streamlining drug discovery, particularly in identifying patient populations for clinical trials and improving drug development timelines. While there are promising applications of AI, such as the successful use in the development of Pfizer's Paxlovid during the COVID-19 pandemic, substantial challenges remain before AI can consistently reduce failure rates in drug development. Optimizing existing methods through AI holds potential, yet the biological complexities of human responses create significant uncertainties. As the industry continues to experiment with AI technologies, the next decade may see incremental improvements rather than transformative breakthroughs.
Blockbuster drugs like Ozempic and Zepbound may appear to be overnight successes but were actually the result of years of research and incremental breakthroughs. In this podcast, Capital Group biopharmaceutical analyst Judith Finegold and investment director David Polak discuss how we have reached a renaissance in drug discovery, the changing dynamics of the global health care payments landscape and why successful investing in the biopharma industry requires deep understanding of not only the science but also the business dynamics. #CapGroupGlobal
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