Dr. Corrigan emphasized the rapid growth of biotechnology firms and the robust global R&D pipeline driven by advances in AI-enhanced drug design and genetic technologies. For instance, the number of biotech companies has grown more than fivefold in the past 25 years. This convergence, however, has not been fully matched by clinical and regulatory efficiencies, as evidenced by the sharp decrease in clinical development success rates in recent years. He challenged the audience to think holistically about how these innovations will require new frameworks, new competencies, and new partnerships with patients to lead to new medicines that not only get approved, but that impact public health.
The presentation highlighted significant challenges in R&D efficiency. For example, the relative increase in programs targeting complex therapeutic areas like oncology and rare disease contributes to lower overall success rates. Additionally, accelerated development timelines, biases and heuristic shortcuts in decision-making, and limited trial accessibility for patients further impact efficiency.
Dr. Corrigan outlined three key strategies to address these challenges:
Each of these elements reflects a broader recognition that technology alone is not enough—what matters is how we synthesize, interpret, and apply data in a manner that both engages with and benefits patients, and regains their trust.
Dr. Corrigan's talk was a clarion call to rethink traditional models of drug development, urging professionals across academia, industry, and health authorities to collaborate more closely, foster trust in science through transparency, and ultimately ensure equitable patient outcomes globally.
Dr. Corrigan encouraged attendees to embrace these scientific advancements and to examine the systems, policies, and mindsets that govern how we conduct clinical trials and bring new medicines to patients. These questions underscored a central theme of the talk; the future of translational science will depend not just on what we know, but on how we work with patients, caregivers, and prescribers to create new insights, leading to medicines that can impact clinical practice and global health.
At MetrumRG, we share Dr. Corrigan’s belief that translational clinical sciences are at an inflection point. Our work at MetrumRG is grounded in the same vision: using integrated data, rigorous methods, and strategic thinking to bring better treatments to the patients who need them most.
We’re proud that Brian Corrigan is part of our team and are grateful for his leadership in advancing the conversation around changing the way we think about drug development.
We invite you to connect with us to explore how we’re transforming the way decisions are made in drug discovery, development, and beyond.