RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Effective Biomarkers in Uncovering Novel Target Molecules for a Drug The Revolution in New Drug Targets Biomarkers have always played a pivotal part in the detection and treatment of diseases. However, recent studies suggest that the use of biomarkers in drug discovery would unquestionably facilitate and accelerate the process of drug development through analysis of the pharmacodynamics of the specific drug. This article focuses on the role of effective biomarkers in uncovering novel target molecules for a drug.
Salvi Wahidna and Ashish Wadhwani* Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research
B
iological markers or the more commonly used term ‘Biomarkers’ was first heard of in the 1950s. In the coming years, this term gained unprecedented popularity as myriad studies were carried out regarding the efficacy of biomarkers in the drug discovery and development process as well as in the medical diagnosis of diseases. However, the use of biomarkers is not limited to solely these two fields; chemistry, geology, and astrobiology are only a few of the other domains in which the term ‘biomarker’ makes an appearance. Over the years, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a plethora of biomarkers to be used in drug development through the three-stage submission process of the Biomarker Qualification Program (BQP), an occurrence which has revolutionized the process of drug discovery from being a tedious, time-consuming task to one which is significantly less challenging. Owing to this, there have been several research which has been 20
P H AR M A F O C U S E U R O PE
ISSUE 01 - 2022
