DDW’s Megan Thomas spoke with industry experts about their predictions for drug discovery opportunities in 2025. Previously, with a focus on technology, machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as neuroscience, cancer research and cell and gene therapy. Here, looking through a diagnostics lens. 

Jackie Weiss, Scientific Affairs Liaison at EUROIMMUN US (part of Revvity)

Jackie Weiss thinks that molecular testing will continue to be a valuable tool in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). She says: “While efforts to curb AMR often focus on antibiotic resistance, the burden of antifungal resistances continues to increase. Historically, culture-based methods have been used to assess antifungal susceptibility. However, molecular techniques, such as PCR, produce results up to four weeks earlier than culture. In the case of invasive fungal infections, time is of the essence, as delays in appropriate treatment are linked to increased mortality. We will see more movement towards the development and validation of multiplex PCR assays that can rapidly identify the most resistance-associated mutations in clinically relevant fungal species. This is particularly important given the limited number of antifungal drug classes available and the rising incidence of antifungal-resistant infections.”

Billy Boyle, Co-founder and CEO of Owlstone Medical

According to Billy Boyle, Co-founder and CEO of Owlstone Medical, non-invasive diagnostics, such as breath-based biomarker analysis, are being integrated into drug discovery processes, with increased clinical use anticipated in 2025. He says: “Breath-based diagnostics provide a personalised approach by enabling detection of disease-specific biomarkers, particularly impactful in the developing world, where fast, cost-effective diagnostics are critical – evidenced by recent investment into breath-based diagnostics for TB and HIV. Early disease detection is key to enabling preventative care, and reference databases of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) alongside clinical and biological context are an expanding resource for disease identification.”

Miguel Tam, Director of Strategic Marketing, BioLegend (part of Revvity)

Miguel Tam said: “One of the applications that will benefit the most from genomics looking ahead is the emerging field of Spatial Biology. The term Spatial Biology is used to describe the study of cells in the context of the surrounding tissue, how they are located respective to each other, how they position to build the tissue and the study of their functionality and interaction with their microenvironment. Under the umbrella of Spatial Biology, researchers have developed methods to quantify and characterize different molecules, including spatial transcriptomics, spatial proteomics, and spatial genomics, with some technologies capable of integrating multiple modalities.”

There are several methods to detect these molecules, one of them being next-generation sequencing, Tam adds. “As technologies evolve and improve, this multiomics approach will become even more accessible and accurate. In addition, with improved resolution down to single cells and even single molecules, the genomic component will play a central role, and over the next several years will bring important discoveries in translational medicine and other very relevant areas of research and diagnostics.”