How New Medicines Are Made Video: The Concept

In collaboration with No Patient Left Behind, we created a unique animation to explain a complex question:
How are new medicines made – and why does it take so long?

The result is The Climb, a metaphorical journey that shows drug development as a long, steep ascent. This how new medicines are made video follows every step of the journey:

  • The knowledge “base camps” built by academia and public funding
  • Early-stage climbs by small biotech startups
  • Risky, underfunded ascents by scientists and investors
  • The resupply missions from larger pharmaceutical companies
  • The few rare summits where blockbuster drugs are born

The video explains how science, investor confidence, public infrastructure and market forces fuel this climb. It’s a delicate ecosystem. Without clear incentives, the system stalls, and future breakthroughs never happen.

How New Medicines Are Made Video – Behind the Scenes of the Production:

1. Visual Metaphors That Made Sense

One of the biggest challenges was translating policy-heavy ideas into visuals. For example, we needed to show government contributions to innovation—but literal money piles felt too simplistic.

Our fix: We used climbing gear—picks, tents, rope—to represent the support systems that make the journey possible. It was a more grounded and relatable image.

Behind the scenes snapshot from the "How New Medicines Are Made Video" showing creative process and animation elements that illustrate the mountain climb metaphor for drug development.

Behind the scenes from our “How New Medicines Are Made Video”—a visual metaphor showcasing the uphill battle of drug innovation.

2. Making Characters Instantly Clear

A small but important fix involved character design. At one point, we showed key figures like scientists and investors in black clothing, which created confusion.

We changed their outfits to lab coats and suits. Suddenly, viewers knew exactly who they were looking at.

3. Managing Scope Over Time

The video had 8 chapters, each with its own story arc and set of visuals. Feedback came in waves, sometimes delayed due to the client’s bandwidth or internal reviews.

We created a shared production timeline, sent updated Vimeo links chapter by chapter, and always recapped what the client approved or needed. That kept the process smooth—even when team members went on parental leave or timelines shifted.

4. Creative Ideas in the Details

At one point, the transition at 00:24 in Chapter 3 didn’t quite flow. So we took initiative and created a custom visual idea. The client approved the small creative leap immediately—and it became one of the client’s favorite moments in the project.

How New Medicines Are Made Video – Why It Matters

This how new medicines are made video does more than explain. It advocates. It helps audiences understand that innovation isn’t just about big pharma profits, it’s about climbing a steep, risky mountain for the benefit of everyone.

By using clear metaphors and accessible storytelling, the video helps:

  • Educate policymakers
  • Inform the public
  • Support better healthcare policy decisions
  • Show how affordability and innovation are not opposites—they’re partners

Want to Explain Your Mission Like This?

If you’re building something complex—a scientific breakthrough, a biotech platform, or a bold healthcare idea—we’d love to help you bring it to life.

👉 Learn more about expaliner videos for science here.