Abstract
Key figures of the sector demonstrate that the pharmaceutical companies play a pivotal role in health research, in terms of resources and investments. Despite these efforts, only 1 substance out of 5–10.000 successfully passes the necessary tests, and 2 drugs out of 10 can defray R&D costs [1]. This inevitably leads to the need of new R&D models which may include more focused clinical studies with e-designed mechanisms (Fig. 1) and open source protection of intellectual property. Innovation is also expected to boost the research environment and the pharmaceutical industries are responding by outsourcing and buyout biotech companies, with investing only 20% in in-house research [2].
In the Italian environment an integrated approach for the formation of a public-private network with pharmaceutical and biotech companies, public R&D institutions and universities, with patient and non-profit organisation is believed to be the key for success by offering the possibility to link internal excellence to the international research network.
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