Progress in the search for ideal drugs

The search for ideal drugs to improve patient care requires applications of modern scientific methods to both discovery and development. Using these modern methods, the pharmaceutical industry with strong academic and government collaboration has introduced in the last 25 years many new drugs that approach the ideal. After reviewing Björnsson's classification of drug action and the notion of contributory causality, this commentary defines an ideal drug from the perspectives of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutics. Examples of new drugs for hypertension, heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, asthma, ulcer, and migraine headaches are described. Finally, the profound implications of progress in developing ideal drugs not only for the patient but also for the academic, educational, and regulatory establishments are briefly reviewed.