Summary: Over the last three decades, Quotient Sciences has established a reputation for efficiently accelerating to first-in-human (FIH) clinical trials through capabilities to provide integrated drug product and clinical pharmacology expertise. In this article, Martin Wing-King, Vice President and General Manager, Site Head at Reading, UK discusses the demand for accelerated pathways to first-in-human (FiH) trials and the team's experience and capabilities offered on-site at Reading, now part of Arcinova, A Quotient Sciences Company.
Quotient Sciences has a reputation for efficiently accelerating to first-in-human (FIH) clinical trials through capabilities to provide integrated drug product and clinical pharmacology expertise.
In this article, Martin Wing-King, Vice President and General Manager, Site Head at the Reading, UK location of Arcinova, A Quotient Sciences Company discusses the demand for accelerated pathways to first-in-human (FiH) trials, the team's experience and capabilities offered on-site at Reading.
You can also continue reading more on Arcinova's blog.
What is driving the demand for accelerated pathways to first-in-human (FiH) trials?
It is well-known that developing a new drug is a long and complex process. Very few compounds make it to a licensed medicine, sometimes taking between 10 and 15 years. At any point, a new product could be rejected due to safety, effectiveness, or quality.
Considering how the time and costs add up along the way, failure in first-in-human studies (FIH) could mean a significant setback. The enormous time and cost savings are evident if we can help our clients de-risk at this stage.
Early data can be crucial in determining whether the molecule should be developed further, instilling a sense of optimism about potential outcomes, or in a worst-case scenario, allow the client to “fail fast” and move on to another program or go back to an earlier formulation or candidate if necessary.
With Translational Pharmaceutics®, a platform Quotient Sciences have used for nearly two decades, this platform enables getting to clinical data more rapidly, leading to a significant reduction in early development time and cost.
What brought you to join the company?
I have been with the Reading, UK site for just over 16 years, including two years and counting as the facility’s site head. I was part of the commercial team at the time that Pharmaterials Ltd. was acquired.
Before the acquisition, the legacy companies would compete in the early development space. I was always curious about Translational Pharmaceutics® and the combined CDMO and CRO capabilities at Nottingham. The due diligence during the acquisition showed great synergies between the two companies and the journey that we were about to embark upon.
In my current role, I am accountable for ensuring that we deliver on our targets set for the facility safely, compliantly, and efficiently, and in a financially-responsible way. I also help ensure that we have the right capabilities to deliver project scopes. Prior to this, I was in the project management department for almost five years and ten years in business development roles.
What are some of the capabilities available at Reading?
The Reading site was established over 25 years ago as Pharmaterials Ltd. and acquired by Quotient Sciences in 2017. The Reading site was established with teams that had deep experience in the material science behind APIs. With this foundational understanding of drug substance, we added formulation development and manufacturing capabilities.
Now, Reading is part of Arcinova, with the recent announcement about the re-launch of our brand.
Reading remain focused on offering a wide range of capabilities, including solid oral dose, liquid, and inhalation dosage forms for early development. Capabilities for drug substance synthesis and manufacturing, along with related services like bioanalysis and 14C drug substance radiolabeling, are available through our Alnwick, UK facility. We also continue to work closely with Quotient Sciences' facilities in the US and UK.
Continue reading more on Arcinova's blog.