Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 1, 2026
05:10
Drug Repurposing Hypothesis Generation Using the "RE:fine Drugs" System
Published on: December 11, 2016
Industrial-scale, genomics-based drug design and discovery.
P M Dean1, E D Zanders, D S Bailey
1De Novo Pharmaceuticals Ltd, St Andrew's House, 59 St Andrew's Street, CB2 3DD., Cambridge, UK. philip.dean@denovopharma.com
Trends in Biotechnology
|July 14, 2001
Summary
Drug discovery now requires novel therapeutic targets identified through genomics. This article outlines the process from gene sequence to drug design, highlighting key organizations involved in this industrial approach.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Genomics and Bioinformatics
- Drug Discovery and Development
Background:
- Increasing demand for novel therapeutic targets in drug discovery.
- Genomic revolution driving an industrial approach to biology and chemistry.
- Need for targets that are disease-relevant and chemically tractable.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the investigative workflow from gene sequence to drug design.
- To highlight the transition from genomics to protein structure and therapeutic development.
- To identify key commercial and public organizations in modern drug discovery.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the drug discovery pipeline from gene to drug.
- Review of advancements in genomics and their impact on target identification.
- Mapping the process of target validation, including mRNA and protein expression.
- Exploration of protein structure determination for drug design.
Main Results:
- Established industrial-scale processes for drug discovery.
- Integration of genomics, molecular biology, and medicinal chemistry.
- Identification of critical steps from target gene to viable drug candidate.
- Emergence of specialized organizations supporting the drug discovery ecosystem.
Conclusions:
- Modern drug discovery necessitates an integrated, industrial approach.
- Genomic insights are pivotal for identifying tractable therapeutic targets.
- A defined workflow from gene to drug design is crucial for efficiency.
- The landscape of drug discovery is shaped by numerous specialized players.
Related Concept Videos
02:02Genomics
Genomics is the science of genomes: it is the study of all the genetic material of an organism. In humans, the genome consists of information carried in 23 pairs of chromosomes in the nucleus, as well as mitochondrial DNA. In genomics, both coding and non-coding DNA is sequenced and analyzed. Genomics allows a better understanding of all living things, their evolution, and their diversity. It has a myriad of uses: for example, to build phylogenetic trees, to improve productivity and...
02:46Genetic Screens
Genetic screens are tools used to identify genes and mutations responsible for phenotypes of interest. Genetic screens help identify individuals or a group of people at risk of developing genetic diseases and help them with early intervention, targeted therapy, and reproductive options.
Forward genetic screens
Forward or “classical” genetic screens involve creating random mutations in an organism’s DNA using radiation, mutagens, or insertion of additional bases, which result in visible changes...
Forward genetic screens
Forward or “classical” genetic screens involve creating random mutations in an organism’s DNA using radiation, mutagens, or insertion of additional bases, which result in visible changes...
01:26Drug Discovery: Overview
Drug discovery is a multifaceted process involving extensive screening, testing, and optimization of lead compounds to identify potential new drugs for therapeutic use. It combines several approaches, including screening large numbers of natural products, chemical modification of known active molecules, identification of new drug targets, and rational design based on biological mechanisms and drug-receptor structure. These approaches are carried out in both academic research laboratories and...
01:29Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics: Overview
Pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics examine how genetic factors influence an individual's response to drugs. While pharmacogenetics focuses on the impact of specific genetic variants on drug effects, pharmacogenomics takes a broader approach, studying how genetic variation across populations contributes to differences in drug responses. These fields aim to explain why individuals may experience varying levels of efficacy or adverse reactions to the same medication.Variability in drug...
01:29Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets
Advances in genomics have profoundly influenced drug discovery by increasing both the speed and accuracy of pharmaceutical development. Pharmacogenomics, which examines how genetic variation influences drug response, facilitates the identification of novel therapeutic targets and enables patient stratification for personalized treatment. These strategies contribute to improved drug efficacy, minimized adverse effects, and more efficient clinical trial design.Mapping genetic differences...
01:30Production of Pharmaceuticals
Industrial insulin production uses genetically engineered E. coli expressing a proinsulin gene controlled by a tryptophan promoter and containing a methionine linker for later cleavage. The cells also carry ampicillin resistance for selective growth. Seed cultures are stored at −80 °C and production begins by thawing a small amount to inoculate starter cultures, which are progressively scaled to a 50,000-L bioreactor. In the bioreactor, E. coli grow in nutrient-rich media under sterile, tightly...