Dr Gray, the CMO at IDEA Pharma, was a guest speaker for the module that day. Suddenly, this title popped up on the screen: “It’s not all about the molecule”. As a biochemist, I was taken aback because all we ever learn about are molecules. Prior to that lecture, I was sure about pursuing a research career with a PhD in the field of neurodegeneration. However, that lecture opened my eyes. One of the many things that I learned that day, was the importance of decision-making in the process of drug development.
Fast-forward seven busy educational months, and here I am, on the last day of my eight-week internship at IDEA Pharma and the time has flown by. I have done internships before, but none were quite like this one. Walk into the office, and you are bathed in natural light with big windows overviewing a park square with lush greenery, the resident office dog wagging his tail and smiling faces all around. I felt at home from the very first minute.
The company culture is inspirational; everyone sits side by side, and you are respected equally, no matter how many years of experience you have. The environment is a joy, partly due to this lack of hierarchy but also due to the sense of comradery that is ingrained into the culture, this “pirate ship”. These are the things that made me love the experience so much.
During my time at IDEA, I have been involved in several projects and have performed tasks that have helped me to develop an understanding of a drug’s mechanism of action. In addition, I can now appreciate the broader conceptual challenges big pharmaceutical companies face. Teamwork within such demanding environments is something I have always enjoyed and at IDEA I have been able to use that skill to it’s fullest.
I have learned new skills, too. Of course, I was confused at times, with the never-ending acronyms that take longer to remember then just saying the full sentence. It can feel like learning a new language at times. Working at IDEA has been an engaging role with new things to learn every day. As Partha, the head of the consultants, would say; “Using your brain every day is the best way to prevent dementia.”
One of my favourite projects involved developing the label content for a drug, which seemed like a negotiation due to the differing priorities faced by commercial and regulatory teams. Commercial teams want to maximise opportunity, whilst regulatory teams seek the lowest-risk scenarios. Finding the sweet spot between the two is hitting the jackpot. This perfectly exemplifies IDEA’s philosophy of the three-legged stool of opportunity, where a drug must be approvable, executable, and commercially attractive.
Additionally, I thoroughly enjoyed the brainstorming “IDEAtion” sessions. In those meetings, everyone shares their ideas, no matter who far-reacing or seemingly far fetched. By doing so, the group maximises the number of possible solutions to any given problem, with the sentence “I don’t like it” not allowed in those meetings without a “because” immediately following it. It was refreshing to see how they valued the opinion of an intern, listening to my suggestions and including them in their overviews. The team places trust in one another’s abilities, and I always felt a part of the process rather than on the sidelines.
Before this internship, my knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry was limited, and I always considered consulting dull. IDEA Pharma has shown me that things can be different. I now appreciate the complexity of drug development and the value of the people that work together behind the scenes to launch great medicines. I feel lucky to have learned from such great mentors and to have engaged in stimulating conversations, whether they be on neurodegeneration or our favourite music bands. Who knows, I might become a boring consultant after all!
