Role of basic science in the development of new medicines: examples from the eicosanoid field.
The role of basic science in the development of health care has received more and more attention. In my own area of research involving the so-called eicosanoids, there are many examples of how studies of structure and function of small molecules, as well as proteins and genes, have led to new therapeutic agents for treatment of a variety of diseases. In most of the cases, the discoveries have resulted in the recognition of novel therapeutic targets amenable to modulation by small molecules. However, there are also examples in which the molecular mechanisms of actions of drugs, discovered by phenotypic screening, have been elucidated. The majority of the examples in this article consist of approved drugs; however, in some cases, ongoing developments of potential therapeutics are cited.
Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: bengt.samuelsson@ki.se.
Bengt
B
Samuelsson
D000818:Animals; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000266:history* / Q000379:methods; D015777:Eicosanoids / Q000235:genetics / Q000266:history* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D010599:Pharmacokinetics; D011173:Portraits as Topic
D015777:Eicosanoids