The 10th Anniversary International Drug Discovery Science and Technology Conference brought together 400+ scientists to transform research into life-saving medicines
In November 2012, something extraordinary happened in the historic city of Nanjing, China. More than 400 brilliant minds from across the planet converged at the Nanjing International Expo Centre with a single ambitious mission: to accelerate the transformation of scientific discoveries into life-saving medicines 1 .
Scientists & Researchers
Thematic Sessions
Anniversary Edition
This conference arrived at a pivotal moment in pharmaceutical research. The first decade of the millennium had been tumultuous for drug discovery scientists, with many large pharmaceutical companies withdrawing from research areas including central nervous system disorders, hypertension, and other complex diseases 3 . Yet simultaneously, a renaissance was emerging as excellent scientists moved into academic drug discovery centers, virtual companies, and research foundations 3 .
The scale and diversity of the 2012 IDDST was staggering—19 separate thematic chapters ran simultaneously across multiple parallel sessions, creating essentially "many conferences under one roof" 1 .
| Session Category | Specific Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Discovery Biology | Target validation, pharmacology and toxicology, stem cells and regenerative medicine |
| Chemical Technologies | Chemistry, rational drug design, drug screening technology, bioprocessing |
| Analytical Approaches | 'Omics' technologies, analytical, automation and enabling technologies, informatics |
| Disease Focus Areas | Cancer, CNS disorders, respiratory and inflammation, autoimmune diseases, emerging infectious diseases, bone diseases, orphan diseases |
| Special Programs | Bench to Bedside to Business, Chinese Scientist programme |
The 6th Drug Discovery for Neurodegeneration Conference emphasized the growing recognition of these disorders as "one of the greatest unmet health needs" 2 .
Researchers discussed moving beyond single-target strategies to combine them with functional approaches—a methodological evolution in pharmacological thinking 2 .
One of the most compelling presentations at the conference came from Jeffrey Bacha, CEO of Del Mar Pharmaceuticals, who showcased the remarkable journey of VAL-083—a chemotherapeutic agent with a complex history now being "repositioned" for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common and aggressive form of brain cancer 5 .
VAL-083, known as "DAG for Injection" in China, was already approved there for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and lung cancer 5 . Its story illustrates an increasingly important pathway in drug development: finding new applications for existing medications.
Finding new therapeutic applications for existing drugs can significantly accelerate development timelines and reduce costs.
Confirmed VAL-083's unique action as a bi-functional alkylating agent
Tested against cancer cells resistant to standard therapies
Developed new regimens for modern brain cancer protocols
Partnership between Del Mar and Guangxi Wuzhou Pharmaceuticals
| Cancer Type | Resistance Mechanism Overcome | Development Status |
|---|---|---|
| Glioblastoma Multiforme | MGMT repair enzyme-mediated resistance | Phase I/II clinical trials |
| Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia | Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance | Approved in China, expanded use under investigation |
| Lung Cancer | Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance | Approved in China, expanded use under investigation |
NCI-sponsored research
Activity against various tumor types suggested potential beyond original indications
Chinese approval
Approved for CML and lung cancer as "DAG for Injection"
AACR presentation
Data showed activity against therapy-resistant GBM cell lines
IDDST presentation
Broader resistance-overcoming profile revealed, clinical trial designs presented
Phase I/II clinical trials
Ongoing evaluation for safety, tolerability and anti-tumor activity in GBM patients
Tools that mimic biological membranes to predict how potential drugs will behave in living systems, highlighted by Professor Klara Valko's work on physicochemical characterization 8 .
Automated systems that can rapidly test thousands of compounds against biological targets, mentioned as essential capabilities in emerging academic drug discovery centers 3 .
Comprehensive analysis tools (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics) that allow scientists to understand disease at a systems level rather than through single targets 1 .
Technologies that create more human-relevant disease models for testing potential therapies, noted as a dedicated session topic at the conference 1 .
A recurring theme throughout the conference was the growing importance of collaboration between academic research centers and pharmaceutical companies. As one editorial noted, "Many excellent scientists are now engaged in new venues that include virtual companies, research foundations, and academic drug discovery centers" 3 .
"Drug discovery in the pharmaceutical industry is and will remain a research-based endeavor. Everyone recognizes that there is no guarantee of success... More importantly, even with a solid translational foundation, there is no clear path to improving the number of candidates that progress from discovery through the clinic, regardless of the criteria used to vet and evaluate programs" 3 .
The conference's location in Nanjing highlighted China's rapidly expanding role in global drug discovery. The collaboration between Del Mar Pharmaceuticals and Guangxi Wuzhou Pharmaceuticals exemplified this trend, combining Western research with Chinese manufacturing and clinical experience 5 .
Similarly, Chinese scientists like Professor Ao Zhang—who returned to China after positions at Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital—represented the reverse "brain drain" that was strengthening China's research capabilities 8 .
Chinese scientists returning from positions abroad are strengthening domestic research capabilities
The 10th Anniversary IDDST conference generated momentum that extended far beyond its three-day schedule. The collaborations initiated, ideas cross-pollinated, and partnerships formed in Nanjing continued to influence drug discovery science for years afterward.
The VAL-083 story inspired similar approaches for other existing drugs, potentially accelerating development timelines.
Connections formed between Chinese, European, and North American researchers fostered ongoing collaborations.
The influx of industrial scientists into academic settings helped train a new generation of researchers.
Despite the exciting progress showcased at IDDST 2012, presenters and attendees recognized that many challenges remained. The "valley of death" between basic research and approved medicines still claimed many promising compounds. The high cost of drug development continued to limit investment in some disease areas. And the need for better predictive models—especially for complex conditions like neurodegenerative diseases—remained largely unfulfilled 2 3 .
Yet the 2012 IDDST conference embodied a growing determination within the scientific community to confront these challenges collectively, innovatively, and with an expanding toolkit of technologies and strategies. As the conference series prepares for its 21st annual meeting in Stockholm in 2025, the legacy of those November days in Nanjing continues through each new collaboration formed, each promising compound discovered, and each life potentially improved through the dedicated work of drug discovery scientists worldwide 4 .