Research in the Field of Drug Design and Development

Abstract

The processes used by academic and industrial scientists to discover new drugs have recently experienced a true renaissance, with many new and exciting techniques being developed over the past 5–10 years alone. Drug design and discovery, and the search for new safe and well-tolerated compounds, as well as the ineffectiveness of existing therapies, and society’s insufficient knowledge concerning the prophylactics and pharmacotherapy of the most common diseases today, comprise a serious challenge. This can influence not only the quality of human life, but also the health of whole societies, which became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. In general, the process of drug development consists of three main stages: drug discovery, preclinical development using cell-based and animal models/tests, clinical trials on humans and, finally, forward moving toward the step of obtaining regulatory approval, in order to market the potential drug. In this review, we will attempt to outline the first three most important consecutive phases in drug design and development, based on the experience of three cooperating and complementary academic centers of the Visegrád group; i.e., Medical University of Lublin, Poland, Masaryk University of Brno, Czech Republic, and Comenius University Bratislava, Slovak Republic.

Antiseptic Functions of CGK012 against HMGB1-Mediated Septic Responses

“…Developing organic synthetic compounds into drugs involves several challenges and limitations that researchers must address [ 28 ]. One limitation is the complexity of the drug development process itself, which typically involves multiple stages, including compound identification, preclinical testing, clinical trials, regulatory approval, and post-marketing surveillance.…”

“…Even promising compounds identified through preclinical studies may fail to demonstrate efficacy or safety in clinical trials due to various factors, such as pharmacokinetic variability, off-target effects, and patient heterogeneity. Additionally, the development of drug resistance, especially in the case of antimicrobial agents, poses a significant challenge [ 28 ]. To address these limitations and improve the process of developing organic synthetic compounds into drugs, future plans may integrate innovative technologies and methodologies.…”

“…Moreover, advancements in personalized medicine and precision therapeutics may enable the development of targeted treatments tailored to individual patient characteristics, thereby improving treatment outcomes and reducing adverse effects. Collaboration between academia, industry, and regulatory agencies will also be essential in accelerating drug development timelines, enhancing research efficiency, and facilitating regulatory approval processes [ 28 ].…”

A Computational Approach for the Discovery of Novel DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitors

“…Virtual screening has emerged as a substantial research tool in drug discovery and is defined as a set of computational methods that analyze large databases of compounds to identify potential hit candidates [15]. A remarkable number of pharmaceutical companies and academia utilize these methods, worldwide, highlighting their contribution to the drug design process [16].…”

Machine Learning Techniques for Predicting Drug-Related Side Effects: A Scoping Review

“…The ability to predict drug-related side effects presents itself as an indispensable facet of contemporary pharmaceutical research and development [ 8 ]. By enabling the early and accurate identification of potential side effects, such methodologies have the potential to revolutionize the drug development landscape, which can lead to significant time and resource efficiencies [ 9 ].…”