Chapter 8 - Drug discovery

Abstract

Drug discovery is a critical component to translation research. While interventional radiology (IR) focuses on the development of novel drug delivery systems, it is important that translational science researchers have a fundamental understanding and appreciation for the process involved in designing a drug to its marketability. Conventionally, the process begins with the identification and validation of a target protein in a disease process via genomic experimentation. Once a target is validated, it undergoes high throughput screening with a library of synthetic compounds until a lead candidate. Once a lead undergoes pharmacokinetic analysis and further structural modification and optimization, the lead may undergo in vivo trials and subsequentially human trials to assess for therapeutic efficacy and toxicity. While the process in full is lengthy and costly, recent innovations expedite and facilitate the development of novel drug candidates. In silico and in vitro methods have greatly contributed toward reducing time and resource expenditure in drug discovery research. Additionally, drug discovery research has yielded novel biological agents and formulations that improve the therapeutic profile of the drug, which may have great applications toward IR translational research.