Drug development in India.

The drug development process is complex. It takes about 5--7 years before a compound synthesised in the laboratory can be made available the general practitioner for therapeutic usage. Furthermore, only a few of the compounds developed and synthesised in the laboratory with possible hope of therapeutic application, satisfactorily pass through all the stages of development process. Complete development of a new drug may cost 10--15 million rupees and needs the technical expertise of the highest order. Obviously this calls for tremendous financial and human resources. It is, therefore, imperative that research investments are properly planned and wisely made. It should be a well coordinated team effort with deep considerations of economic management. Clinical pharmacology plays an essential and a meaningful role in this process and its interactions with the pharmaceutical industry should be such as to ensure therapeutic efficacy and safety of new drugs.