Identification of New Therapeutic Targets

Since their discovery over 30 years ago, statins have proven to be remarkably useful agents in both the basic science and clinical arenas. Worldwide it is estimated that 25 million people are taking these agents. This number could further increase as we learn more about the potential use of statins in other disorders. Better understanding of the role of isoprenoids and isoprenoid-derivatives in human health and disease will undoubtedly lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets and pharmaceutical agents. 

Bioinformatics. The application of statistical and mathematical techniques to turn sequence data into useful biological information. The general goal of bioinformatics is to define the structure, location, and function of the proteins and nucleic acids that are the products of the processing of a genome. The application of bioinformatics in drug discovery is primarily the identification of new therapeutic targets. 

Improved Diagnostic Classification Improved Prognostic Information to Guide Therapy Identification of New Therapeutic Targets... 

Expressed genes determine the phenotype of the cell and its response to environmental factors. Therefore, gene expression profiles can help to elucidate cellular functions, regulatory mechanisms, and biochemical pathways, both in normal and disease states. The knowledge derived from comparative studies between diseased cells or tissues and normal counterparts allows the identification of new molecular targets. As a result, more accurate diagnoses and individual predictions of clinical outcome can be made and new therapeutic targets can be characterized. 

Proteomic analysis and identification of new hiomarkers and therapeutic targets for invasive ovarian cancer. Proteomics 2(1), 76-84. 

In summary it can be said that besides being important in the development of therapeutic strategies to combat disease with minimal toxicity and maximal effects, drug targeting may be of interest for more basic studies on the mechanistic background of diseases and the identification of new molecules as targets for therapeutic intervention. 

The development of newer agents continues because it is relatively easy to synthesize chemicals with local anesthetic properties. Unfortunately, it is difficult to reduce the toxicity of these compounds because the common side effects of local anesthetics represent extensions of their therapeutic effects. New research into the mechanisms of local anesthetic-induced cardiac and spinal toxicity and identification of alternative drug targets for spinal analgesia (eg, opioid receptors, [Pg.560]

These unique phenotypes have provided invaluable information on the role of these pumps in specific tissues and species, and have improved our understanding of Ca2+ regulated processes in muscles, the heart and the skin in human and in mice. Although the understanding of the pathogenesis of these diseases is still incomplete, these recent advances hold the promise of improved knowledge on the disease processes and the identification of new targets for therapeutic interventions. 

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