Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Jürgen Drews.
The case histories of five modern drugs are taken as a basis for reflection on the state of drug discovery. Two issues intimately associated with drug research are highlighted: the nature of the intellectual process leading to new discoveries; and the possibility that the principle of selective efficacy, which has guided drug research from its beginnings, might need modification, at least in some areas of pharmacotherapy.
Ten years ago, the first estimates of the existing number of drug targets were made. This month's issue features an article and poster that together summarize current drug targets and associated characteristics, providing a basis to better understand the potential for future therapeutic exploitation.
Paul Ehrlich, a founding father in fields across a wide range of medical sciences, was born 150 years ago. To mark this anniversary, this article gives an overview of his life, highlighting his major scientific contributions and paying tribute to Paul Ehrlich the man.
The promise of genomics in drug discovery, which was eagerly embraced in the mid-1990s, has not yet been fulfilled. However, the influence of modern biology on drug discovery remains viable. The promise of genomics and biology should be put in context with the two central problems of drug discovery: the search for disease-related targets, and the study of drug-protein interactions and protein-protein interactions. The first tier of the biotechnology industry has now become the most productive segment of the drug industry. It combines a high degree of innovative spirit with solid pharmaceutical professionalism. Some biotechnology firms have succeeded in addressing unmet medical needs in technologically appealing ways. In their totality, these changes will deeply alter the nature and appearance of the drug industry.
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