Challenges for drug discovery and development in China.
The drug development industry is restructuring worldwide in terms of the research and development process. As with pharmaceuticals in the west, China faces major challenges for drug discovery and development. Areas covered: In this review, the authors discuss anti-cancer, anti-allergy, anti-infectious, and proprietary Chinese Medicines (pCM) for various chronic diseases (such as the allergic diseases: eczema, asthma and allergic rhinitis), which remain the contemporary therapeutic strategies that are being explored and developed. Drug transporters, disease specific biomarkers, pharmacophores, bioactive natural products and pharmacogenetics are some aspects of research technologies. Proprietary Chinese medicine remains one of the most popular strategies. There is however the issue of good research documentation of efficacy versus adverse effects. China has a complex healthcare system involving a large patient pool. Expert opinion: Various factors can impact drug development in China including the concurrent use of both western and Chinese medicines, pharmacogenetic variances, lack of multidisciplinary team impact on disease management and drug safety. China may adopt the current development of big data analysis in other countries such as UK and US to build and centralize a nationwide database for better monitoring and clinical evaluation to provide more efficient care at a lower cost.
a Department of Pediatrics , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin , Hong Kong.
Kam Lun
KL
Hon
b School of Pharmacy , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Shatin , Hong Kong.
Vivian W Y
VW
Lee
D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D015195:Drug Design; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000639:trends*; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000639:trends*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods; D012106:Research / Q000639:trends
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal
Challenges; China; Chinese medicine; bioactive natural products; disease specific biomarkers; drug discovery and development; drug transporters; pharmacophores