Bringing primary cells to mainstream drug development and drug testing.
Although cell-based screening is already an essential tool in drug discovery, the cell models currently available are fast becoming inadequate. The use of transformed cells as models in almost every step of the discovery pipeline needs to be substituted with more relevant, disease-oriented models, and the use of patient-derived primary cells should logically become the next best strategy. In the past the use of such cells has been restricted by their scarcity and difficulty in manipulation and general handling; however, recent advances in isolation and growth, as well as assay miniaturization, transfection efficiency and assay sensitivity, have enabled their use in the mainstream of drug discovery. This review explores some of these enabling technologies, as well as some of the most critical uses of primary cells that may dramatically alter the landscape of drug discovery and drug testing.
Goldbard
Simon
S
Movi Global LLC, 6580 Via del Oro, San Jose, CA 95119, USA. sgoldbard@moviglobal.com
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000187:drug effects; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000187:drug effects
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents