At a time when it is becoming usual for medicines to be developed for a global market and pharmaceutical companies are endeavouring to expedite the drug development process, Regulatory Authorities are concentrating on improving their efficiency and effectiveness. Therefore, it is not surprising that questions are being asked as to how performance might be measured and compared between different authorities who are now often in receipt of dossiers that have been submitted to several agencies at the same time. Issues such as 'what target should be set for the review of new medicines?' and `how can quality be assured?' are now considered to be of critical importance. The twelfth CMR International Workshop, held in January 1997, provided the opportunity for Regulatory Authority and industry personnel from Europe, North America, Australia and Japan to openly discuss experiences and exchange views on how to improve the review process. The proceedings of this meeting provide a comprehensive overview of the current review process in different countries and the need for performance measures and targets. This volume summarises the many suggestions that were debated at the Workshop, and includes chapters on measuring performance, and on the integration of quality into the review process.

It was over five years ago that the Centre for Medicines Research organized a workshop entitled "Quality of Life: Assessment and Application". This workshop brought together a unique group of participants, some of whom had been involved in studies on quality of life for well over a decade, whilst others were meeting the subject for the first time. This blend of experienced researchers and enthusiastic newcomers was a great stimulus to the discus sions which followed individual presentations as well as that resulting from the study groups. In the ensuing publication, a balance was sought between a consideration of the complex principles underlying the assessment of quality of life and the application of such assessments to specific clinical conditions which necessitated this approach. The organization in 1991 of a second workshop entitled "Quality of Life Assessment: Key Issues in the 1990s" resulted in a further consideration of the quality of life philosophy, concepts and key instruments together with an update on assessing quality of life in a number of major disease areas. Of particular importance was an examination of various viewpoints concerned with ethical questions and their implications, and quality oflife from industry, regulatory and health care purchasers' perspectives. As a result of this second workshop, the editors of the original book referred to above decided to produce a second edition with a number of updates and additional chapters.

For a research-based pharmaceutical company to be successful in the 1990s. it must have a strategic plan for the global development of new chemical entities. Global development can be defined as an attempt to reach all major markets as rapidly as possible and for many companies these will include the United States. Japan. Germany. France. Italy. UK and Canada. which together represent approximately 85% of the pharmaceutical market in the developed world. The mutual acceptance of foreign clinical data would reduce the time and resources required to develop a new medicine for the international market by eliminating the requirement for the routine repetition of clinical studies in local populations. In Japan this has been largely based on the belief that genetic differences in respon siveness may result in a different benefit/risk assessment for a new mediCine. while requests in Europe and the United States for local data relate mainly to methodological and cultural considerations. The importance of this issue has been recognised internationally as it was one of the topics discussed at the International Conference on Harmonisation in Orlando (October 1993) and it is currently on the programme for ICH3 which will be convened in Yokohama in Japan in November 1995."

Over the past twelve years, the Centre for Medicines Research has held a series of Workshops on a number of topics related to the drug discovery and development process. The major objective of these Workshops has been to provide an international forum for regula tory, academic and industry representatives to debate together, and suggest solutions to, specific problems. The meeting reported in this volume represents a departure from this approach, in that the par ticipants were drawn largely from the pharmaceutical industry. Senior clinicians, pharmacologists and toxicologists from companies in Europe, the USA and Japan met in May 1994 to discuss a scientific rationale for the conduct of toxicity studies to support the clinical development of new medicines, and to begin to work towards an industry consensus. Achievement of such a consensus is seen as an important step in the process leading towards international harmon isation of the recommendations on the timing of toxicity studies in relation to clinical trials."

The third CMR Workshop prov. ided the opportunity for a group of experts from the Industry, academia and the regulatory authorities to meet and discuss ways and means by which risk benefit decisions are made during the various stages of drug development. It became apparent from the discussions that took place in October 1985, at the CIBA Foundation, that decisions are often made with limited data and inadequate methodology. The conclusions drawn from the day's deliberations were as follows: 1. Current methodology for assessing risk and particularly benefits must be improved; 2. Safety must be assessed in association with benefits as it is ultimately the benefit/ risk ratio which should decide the future of medicines; 3. Risks from medicines must always be viewed in relation to the risks from untreated diseases. It seemed to be the consensus of the group that such a meeting was both useful and informative and, hopefully, the publication of these proceedings will stimulate further discussion in this important area which may improve the decision-making process in drug development. The Editors wish to thank the participants for contributing to the Work shop, together with Dr. Cyndy Lumley for providing the initial transcript of the meeting and Mrs Sheila Wright for producing the final version and for carrying out all the additional work that is entailed in producing such a publication. Professor S. R. Walker A. W."

As 1992 looms on the horizon and preparation is made for the completion of the internal market in Europe, the CMR realised the value of addressing some of the issues involved and defining the objectives and achievements of medicines regulations in a number of EEC countries in comparison with Japan and the USA. The overall aim was to use the lessons of past experience to determine the most appropriate way forward. The final debate focused on two possibilities for assessing and granting marketing authorisations for Europe, namely mutual recognition or a centrally organised European Med icines Office. These two views were discussed in detail at both the workshop at the Ciba Foundation and the international symposium at the Royal College of Physicians. It is hoped that this sharing of ideas and the publication of the proceedings of this fifth CMR Workshop will have encouraged all concerned to continue the debate so that the final outcome will be the establishment of an efficient system in the community for the benefit of patients, the practising physician and the pharmaceutical industry. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking Brenda Mullinger for the considerable amount of scientific and editorial work that she carried out on the manuscripts, Sheila Wright for providing the secretarial support which allowed the proceedings to be submitted to Kluwer Academic Publishers on disk and Sandra Cox who organised the administrative aspects so vital to the successful running of a Workshop and major international symposium. S. R."

The 20th Anniversary of a Learned Society is a momentous event in its af fairs, and it is fitting that, in the Appendix to the Proceedings of the 20th An niversary Meeting, the history of the Society for Drug Research is outlined. The aim of the Society, to encourage an interdisciplinary approach and to act as an organisation freed from any specific scientific branch of knowledge, was achieved and is exemplified by the publication of these proceedings of the Anniversary Meeting held at the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. In only two other cases have the Society's proceedings been published, main taining the original decision and policy to allow membership to enjoy com munications from those who may not have agreed to speak had publication been mandatory. The papers presented at the Anniversary Meeting covered a wide range of scientific disciplines, and it is fitting that work of such calibre should have been published under the able editorship of Stuart and Bryan Walker. They should prove invaluable to those who are interested in Drug Research."

Regulatory review is the last major development hurdle that must be passed by a new medicine before it reaches the market. At a time when pharmaceutical companies are reviewing their R&D strategies, and attempting to reduce drug development times, it is extremely important that the review process is made as efficient as possible. The 11th CMR Workshop, held in September 1995, provided the opportunity for regulatory authority and industry personnel from Europe, North America, Australia and Japan to openly discuss views and exchange experiences on the subject of improving the review process. The proceedings of this meeting provide a comprehensive overview of the current review process around the world. The contributors describe the present situation and highlight company strategies and regulatory initiatives to improve the review process. This volume also summarises the suggestions that were developed by the participants, covering many facets of this process, including the quality and size of the dossier, dialogue, submission strategies, feedback and the response to questions.

Regulatory review is the last major development hurdle that must be passed by a new medicine before it reaches the market. At a time when pharmaceutical companies are reviewing their R&D strategies, and attempting to reduce drug development times, it is extremely important that the review process is made as efficient as possible. The 11th CMR Workshop, held in September 1995, provided the opportunity for regulatory authority and industry personnel from Europe, North America, Australia and Japan to openly discuss views and exchange experiences on the subject of improving the review process. The proceedings of this meeting provide a comprehensive overview of the current review process around the world. The contributors describe the present situation and highlight company strategies and regulatory initiatives to improve the review process. This volume also summarises the suggestions that were developed by the participants, covering many facets of this process, including the quality and size of the dossier, dialogue, submission strategies, feedback and the response to questions.

Over the past twelve years, the Centre for Medicines Research has held a series of Workshops on a number of topics related to the drug discovery and development process. The major objective of these Workshops has been to provide an international forum for regula tory, academic and industry representatives to debate together, and suggest solutions to, specific problems. The meeting reported in this volume represents a departure from this approach, in that the par ticipants were drawn largely from the pharmaceutical industry. Senior clinicians, pharmacologists and toxicologists from companies in Europe, the USA and Japan met in May 1994 to discuss a scientific rationale for the conduct of toxicity studies to support the clinical development of new medicines, and to begin to work towards an industry consensus. Achievement of such a consensus is seen as an important step in the process leading towards international harmon isation of the recommendations on the timing of toxicity studies in relation to clinical trials."

The 20th Anniversary of a Learned Society is a momentous event in its af fairs, and it is fitting that, in the Appendix to the Proceedings of the 20th An niversary Meeting, the history of the Society for Drug Research is outlined. The aim of the Society, to encourage an interdisciplinary approach and to act as an organisation freed from any specific scientific branch of knowledge, was achieved and is exemplified by the publication of these proceedings of the Anniversary Meeting held at the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. In only two other cases have the Society's proceedings been published, main taining the original decision and policy to allow membership to enjoy com munications from those who may not have agreed to speak had publication been mandatory. The papers presented at the Anniversary Meeting covered a wide range of scientific disciplines, and it is fitting that work of such calibre should have been published under the able editorship of Stuart and Bryan Walker. They should prove invaluable to those who are interested in Drug Research."