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| The View From Here Accordingly this month's review articles focus on technologies that should
enable speedier introduction of drugs to the market, including new developments
in molecular modelling, NMR, 'click chemistry' and, in particular, biomarkers. |
Medicinal
chemistry has delivered significant improvements in healthcare over the
last 60 years. During this time the pharmaceutical industry has become
the dominant provider of new medicines, through the application of medicinal
chemistry and allied technologies. The role of the medicinal chemist has
also evolved from being a deliverer of pharmacologically active molecules
to being a provider of medicines, and this has happened as a result of
enhanced understanding of metabolism and toxicology. In 2006, a further
evolution in the scope of medicinal chemistry is taking place, one which
will play a significant role in clinical development. Thus, only this
month the FDA announced the formation of a collaborative association between
pharmaceutical manufacturers, the NIH and themselves, with the aim of
raising funds for research grants directed towards biomarker development,
to enable the optimal treatment of diabetes and cancer; due acknowledgement
of the importance of this technology. Because design and provision of
biomarkers, most notably in the form of PET ligands, calls for significant
medicinal chemistry input, a wider role for the medicinal chemist is envisaged.