Abstract
Validation of Computational Biology Tools Essential to Augment Sales among Pharmaceutical
Companies
Although computational biology tools have been around for a long time, their adoption is still in
its initial stage. Pharmaceutical companies that have invested heavily in these tools have yet to
see any tangible returns and are naturally skeptical about their efficacy. Therefore, vendors of
these tools need to validate themselves by conducting case studies and wet lab experiments to
demonstrate the benefits of their products.
This Frost & Sullivan research service provides comprehensive analysis of investment and
growth opportunities in the world computational biology markets. The study segments the market into
pathway modeling, tissue modeling, cellular modeling, and disease modeling tools. It also discusses
the various market trends while providing in-depth market share analysis, revenue and market
forecasts, and exhaustive discussions on the drivers and restraints.
Systems Approach Enable Integration of Data from Multiple Sources
Computational biology involves integration of data from various sources to model a biological
process. "Scientists are looking to computational biology to build predictive models that give
insights into how a drug affects a particular disease progression by utilizing the present day
deluge of information," says the analyst of this research. However, the data currently
available is from varied sources and is often corrupt. Furthermore, despite scientists having
developed their own individual databases there has been very little standardization or coordination
among them. As a result, many systems are unable to communicate with each other and fail to
integrate the huge volume of data available to model a biological process.
Hence, the need for standard data formats and interfaces is a major force in computational
biology markets. Scientists have realized that existing approaches need to be augmented by a systems
approach by which data from different sources can be combined to form a predictive model. Systems
approach can enhance computational biology tools by allowing the dynamic utilization of such data
for a variety of purposes. The increased value presented by this technology has the potential to
revolutionize the drug discovery process worldwide.
Computational Biology Tools Lower Cost by Eliminating False Leads in the Drug Discovery
Process
"Later stages of drug discovery are, as a rule, more expensive and time-consuming than
earlier ones," says the analyst. "The rewards of a drug discovery program with a tightly
integrated in-silico simulation system are astounding, with its ability to prioritize, validate, and
eliminate targets at a very early stage in drug discovery." Eliminating a target in this manner
can save $200.0 to $300.0 million over what that compound would have cost if it had made it into the
later stage of clinical trial.
Qualified software developers trained in biology, chemistry, and specific methods of modeling and
simulation needed to interpret data are essential to improve the drug discovery process. Companies
also have to be prepared to deal with the technical inertia among biologists who consider the
biological system too complex to be implemented using a series of differential equations. The series
of consolidations, which took place in the pharmaceutical industry has forced computational biology
vendors to tailor their offerings to meet the demands of these companies for a large technological
platform which can satisfy a multitude of their research needs.
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