On the exploitation of serendipity in drug discovery

Abstract

We have written previously about the nature of serendipity and the role that it played in the “Psychopharmacology Revolution” of the 1950s and 1960s [1-3]. However, we have not previously addressed the issue of whether it is possible or desirable to design studies to enhance and exploit serendipity. We do so here. First, it is essential to establish a definition of serendipity. As we suggested previously [1], the term serendipity shall be defined as “the discovery of something not sought”. This definition, like most others, requires the element of sagacity. The observation of “something not sought” will not lead to discovery unless someone has the mental discernment (sagacity) required to recognize that the observation has significance. However, sagacity cannot be used to differentiate serendipitous from non-serendipitous discoveries because it is a necessary attribute of both. Sagacity and discovery are synonyms in this context