MIT experts propose a roadmap for easier passage across the Valley of Death

摘要

The typical life cycle of a cancer drug from the laboratory to the clinic and, finally, to patients is longand fraught with obstacles. There is a significant bottleneck -- known as the Valley of Death -- when lack offunding prevents ideas from moving from the university into the market.Andrew W. Lo is an economist by training and trade. While studying the drug discovery cycle for personalreasons, he was baffled by the concept of the Valley of Death. From the perspective of an economist, as heexplains, “I always assumed that if there’s a medical need and if there’s a good rate of return for treating it, themoney will flow. So, if there’s a bottleneck, it must mean that there just aren’t enough good opportunities.”