The successful development of an anti-cancer drug from discovery to post-marketing is a challenging roadmap which can often take more than a decade to complete. Cancer research scientists and many others who are part of this roadmap are often unfamiliar with the entirety of such complex processes.
As one of the only two Canadian universities invited to participate in a new educational opportunity, the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute (GCI) at 91社区 had the pleasure to host Pfizer Canada鈥檚 Oncology-3D simulation last Friday, May 26, 2023. Oncology-3D has been developed to help research scientists in academic institutions understand the fundamentals of the Drug Discovery and Development (3D) process specific to oncology by modelling the creation of new and better therapies in a simulation environment.
Members from Pfizer Medical Affairs Oncology, Goodman Cancer Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Saint Mary's Hospital Centre (SMHC), Research Institute at the 91社区 Health Centre (RI-MUHC), the 91社区 Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and the 91社区 Office of Innovation and Partnerships, gathered at the GCI for the event. Oncologists, research faculty, staff, medical residents and trainees role-played members of a multidisciplinary drug development team from Discovery Scientist to Phase III Clinician to bring a new chemical entity from initial discovery all the way to regulatory approval.
Jonathan Bertin, Ph.D., from the Pfizer team, who helmed the event, shared his feedback: 鈥淭he Pfizer medical oncology team were very impressed by the knowledge and level of engagement from the participants. We are so grateful for the warm welcome and the opportunity to have run the Onc3D workshop at the Goodman Cancer Institute! We are looking very much forward to repeating this workshop in Montreal soon.鈥�
GCI Deputy Director Trina Johnson, Ph.D., was also in attendance, sharing that 鈥渢he workshop was a dynamic way to experience how decisions and variables both within and outside our control, made at every stage of the drug development process, can have large impact on whether a drug becomes clinically available. In my workshop role, as a Discovery Scientist, I worked with others role-playing as: marketing specialists, regulatory agents, clinicians and even Health Canada. With my simulation team, I filed my first IND form to defend the unmet clinical need for my drug target. The pace of the day was exciting, running through what would normally be a 12-year journey in just under 5 hours.鈥�
The Goodman Cancer Institute is honoured to have hosted this event and looks forward for the Pfizer Oncology-3D workshop to return to 91社区 in an expanded format.