1. Drug discovery is a complex process that involves identifying potential new medicines.
2. It often begins with basic research in biology, genomics, or biochemistry.
3. The primary goal is to identify a target molecule or pathway that is implicated in a disease condition.
4. Advanced technologies like AI, machine learning, and bioinformatics are often used for target identification.
5. Once a target is identified, the process of lead identification begins, seeking molecules that affect the target.
6. Chemists and biologists work together in the process of lead optimization to make the lead compound more effective and safe.
7. Assays are conducted to verify that the lead compound can modify the target in the intended way.
8. Preclinical testing in cell cultures and animal models are used to assess safety and efficacy.
9. If the drug candidate passes preclinical tests, it moves to clinical trials in humans.
10. Clinical trials are typically carried out in three phases: testing for safety (Phase I), effectiveness (Phase II), and comparing to standard treatments (Phase III).
11. After successful clinical trials, the drug can be submitted for regulatory approval, like to the FDA in the US.
12. Once approved, the drug enters the market, but it is continually monitored for safety and efficacy through post-market surveillance.
13. Drug discovery is a time-consuming and expensive process, often taking over a decade and costing billions of dollars.
14. The failure rate is high, with only a small percentage of discovered compounds making it to the market.
15. Advances in technology, like high throughput screening and precision medicine, are making drug discovery more efficient and personalized.