Often, pharmaceutical companies avoid new laboratory testing methodologies preferring to stick to established procedures for drug development so as to avoid any potential regulatory ambiguity. This tendency to avoid new methodologies and regulatory scrutiny sometimes leads to slower progress, higher costs and lower probability of new product approvals. Furthermore, some pharmaceutical firms severely restrict academic research-based modifications to established laboratory testing procedures in drug development because of their concern over triggering costly adjustments to the established regulatory framework. more... See more text