Pharmaceutical research promotes the development of new drugs and enhances our understanding of how they work. However, R&D costs have increased exponentially whereas the number of new drug registrations has declined steadily over the last 10 years. One critical factor is that the identification of drug targets for inadequately understood diseases requires more extensive investment in discovery research but has a high attrition rate. This reflects the lack of validated clinical models for efficacy and safety, and intensive efforts are currently underway to develop new disease models and preclinical/clinical biomarkers, allowing R&D projects to be translated into benefits for patients.
The research focus of the project group is drug research, development of predictive preclinical and clinical models of disease and clinical research. The synergy generated by housing predictive preclinical and clinical models under one roof will make it easier to take early go/no-go project decisions. We have developed validated disease models covering the fields of cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases, acute inflammation and pain (inflammatory, neuropathic, oncological and post-operative), arthritic and skin disorders. Based on the internal expertise in the field of pathophysiological signalling pathways, we perform research on novel innovative therapeutic approaches (systems medicine). Drawing on cutting-edge research activities and intellectual property within Goethe University Frankfurt, we apply the latest technology and research concepts to our collaborative projects, with pre-competitive research focusing on the treatment of chronic inflammatory joint disease, pain, neurodegenerative disorders and cardiovascular disease. The project group covers a portfolio of technologies for drug research and development across the value chain.