In Drug Discovery And Development ... — Pharmacology
The drug discovery process is where pharmacology first asserts its dominance. This phase is about finding a "hit," validating it, and optimizing it into a "lead" compound.
The process begins by identifying a biological target—such as a protein, enzyme, or receptor—that plays a critical role in a disease. Target Identification & Validation Pharmacology in Drug Discovery and Development ...
Pharmacology plays a critical role in several stages of the drug discovery and development process. The drug discovery process is where pharmacology first
Often misunderstood as simply "the study of drugs," pharmacology is far more nuanced. It is the science of how chemicals interact with biological systems. In the context of drug discovery and development, pharmacology serves as both the map and the compass. It provides the fundamental principles that guide researchers from the initial identification of a disease target to the final approval of a therapeutic agent. In the context of drug discovery and development,
Before understanding how pharmacology fits into drug development, one must master its two core sub-disciplines. The relationship between PK and PD is often summarized by a simple, profound question: “Does the drug get there, and does it do the job?”
It is not enough to know that the drug works. You must prove it doesn't kill other systems. Safety pharmacology assesses the effect of the drug on vital organ systems at therapeutic and supra-therapeutic doses.