King Pancreas & the Lizard Wizard

From aspirin to antibiotics and blood-thinners, people are now used to popping a pill or taking an injectable treatment for ailments of all kinds. Antibiotics and vaccines have greatly changed the expected lifespan at birth, and drugs and other interventions allow people to escape premature death from many infections and lifestyle diseases. The path from discovery research to getting a treatment to the market, however, is long and complex, and a never-ending process with modifications and refinements of products that happen later. There is rarely a 'silver bullet' solution for any problem. New and more complex problems keep arising as our understanding grows and new diseases get recognised, as do solutions tailored to specific contexts. The journey from fundamental, curiosity-driven research to marketing is long and winding, almost akin to a game of 'snakes and ladders'.