Drug Discovery & Research is a complex and time-consuming process that involves identifying and developing potential new medicines. The journey begins with target identification, where scientists pinpoint specific biological targets (such as e.g. proteins) linked to a particular disease. Once a target is identified drug discovery starts. Vast compound libraries are screened or computational methods (also using nowadays Artificial Intelligence) are used to discover molecules that interact with these targets. Promising candidates undergo rigorous preclinical testing, including cell and animal studies to assess their safety, efficacy and mechanism of action. This stage is crucial to identify potential side effects and optimize the drug’s properties before progressing to clinical trials.
