Expected Next-Generation Drugs Under Development in Relation to Voiding Symptoms

Abstract

New drug development is a high-risk venture, but if successful, will bring great revenues to those willing to accept the risk. In the field of urology, in particular for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), the recent successful landing of drugs (e.g., mirabegron, botulinum toxin A, and tadalafil) has resulted in increased interest in new drug development. Benign prostatic hyperplasia and overactive bladder syndrome, representative LUTS diseases, are attractive targets because of their prevalence and market size in the field of urology. Additionally, the awareness about new stream of research is very important not only because of the market size and economic factors, but also because to keep steady attention to these research for the researcher’s. We have reviewed a selection of new drugs currently under development for the treatment of the two aforementioned diseases and hope to offer urologists an overview of the current situation and future directions in the field of urology.

6-sialyllactose ameliorates dihydrotestosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia through suppressing VEGF-mediated angiogenesis

“…However, these drugs have limitation on clinical usage because of side-effects, such as hypertension, nasal congestion, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, or other drug-related problems (5, 6). Thus, many studies are struggling to find novel drugs targeting other molecules (7).…”

Social and Ethical Impact of Advanced Artificial and Biological Enhancements

“…Stem cells, artificial organs printed in 3D printing medical devices, nanotechnological drug delivery systems, and next-generation drugs with decreased side effects, will undoubtedly offer new perspectives to the researchers. On the contrary, this new framework may influence the pharmaceutical industry in terms of the intellectual property rights, the long-term efforts, the excessively high costs, the high risk of failure and the sharing of ongoing clinical trial results [28]. As far as the cost of personalized treatment is concerned, the cost of health care for elderly patients in an increasingly aging population is higher than the care in the younger ages even with severe disabilities.…”

Expected Next-Generation Drugs

“…Despite some of these concerns, the successful development of a new drug could have profound benefits. As noted in the article of this issue [ 1 ], these benefits span to patients, researchers, and nations, as well as to individual pharmaceutical companies. This is why we are more and more involved in new drug development.…”