Drugs targeting adrenergic receptors: does interaction with a specific subtype confer therapeutic advantage?
Many important drugs act via the activation or blockade of adrenergic receptors. Although research has been ongoing in this area for over fifty years, the continual subdivision of the major adrenoceptor classes has provided new opportunities for drug discovery. This review focuses on the recent developments directed towards a few of the many potential targets now available. While there is a rationale to suggest that limiting pharmacological activity to one particular subtype may improve the therapeutic profile for some indications, it is also possible for a drug to have beneficial effects resulting from interactions with multiple adrenergic receptor subtypes.
Hieble
J P
JP
SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, King of Prussia, PA 19087, USA. J_Paul_Hieble@sbphrd.com