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First-to-patent does not predict first- or best-in-class: analysis of approved small molecule vs. biologic drugs
G E Roland1, J J Xu, J A Wagner
1Scientific Knowledge Discovery, Merck & Co., Inc, Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, USA.
Abstract:
The biopharmaceutical enterprise continues to analyze, refine, and identify key strategic factors predicting success of innovative therapeutic advances to address important unmet medical needs. A key comparison has focused on the relative benefits of the novel mechanism of a first-in-class drug vs. the superior properties that differentiate improved follow-on drugs (best-in-class). A corollary question to first-in-class vs. best-in-class is the impact of patent timing. Surprisingly, first-to-patent does not predict first- or best-in-class.
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