Drug discovery and development
Scotland is at the forefront of cutting-edge drug research. The drug discovery and development industry here has attracted a significant multinational presence and is supported by globally recognised research, industrial technology and universities, all which have well developed links to industry.
Scotland’s drug discovery and development includes:
Scotland’s strengths in drug discovery and development
Scotland boasts several life sciences companies specifically focused on the drug discovery and development process. Their key strengths include:
- Development of human antibody-producing cell lines for use against infectious diseases
- Methods to accelerate drug development and reduce product attrition
- The production of new antibiotics
- Products for psychiatric and neurological disorders
- Development of innovative technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer
Working in drug discovery and development in Scotland
If you're in the drug discovery and development industry, Scotland is a fantastic place to further your career. The size of the industry in Scotland makes for healthy commercial and academic employment opportunities.
Skills in particular demand within the Scottish drug discovery and development sector include biochemistry, analytical chemistry, medicinal chemistry, microbiology and sales and marketing.
Some companies involved at the forefront of Scottish drug discovery are:
- ProStrakan
- CXR Biosciences
- Cyclacel
- Scottish Biomedical Ltd
- Aquapharm
- Controlled Therapeutics
Find more about Scotland's life sciences companies
View the latest job opportunities in life sciences in Scotland
Education and research in drug discovery and development
Scotland's powerful drug discovery industry is well represented academically. The country boasts many university departments and research institutes focussed on conducting drug discovery research.
The academic sector frequently collaborates with the drug discovery industry with many successes, including cloning adult mammals, keyhole surgery, modelling human functions, biosensors, imaging techniques and materials.
Some of the bigger institutes include:
- Strathclyde University Institute for Drug Research
- The School of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee
- Edinburgh University Division of Pathway Medicine
Find out more about Scotland's life sciences and research institutes