The role of statistics in the success of a pharmaceutical research laboratory: A historical case description

Abstract

Statistics was one of the major driving forces toward success whe?n Dr. Paul Janssen founded his research laboratory in 1953. His objective was to design novel drugs by synthesizing many chemical compounds and testing them in several rapid and economic pharmacological assays. Dr. Janssen had the genius and charisma of having statistical precepts being accepted by a rapidly expanding and diversifying scientific community. It insured that research proceeded in an orderly and planned fashion, while at the same time having an open mind for unexpected opportunities and for valuable chance events. Some of these precepts are documented here in a historical perspective of the Janssen laboratory that started from a garage-like operation and developed into a world-class scientific enterprise. Millions of people have had their lives saved or greatly improved thanks to the medicines that Janssen and his collaborators have discovered. This would not have been possible without the statistical foundation upon which his pharmaceutical research was built. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.