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Drug Discovery: Overview01:26

Drug 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...
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Structure-Activity Relationships and Drug Design01:28

Structure-Activity Relationships and Drug Design

Drug design is a dynamic field that involves discovering and developing new medications based on specific biological targets. This process heavily relies on structure-activity relationships (SAR) and quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) to guide the design and optimization of efficient drugs.
SAR studies the intricate relationship between a drug's chemical structure and biological activity. It focuses on understanding how modifications to a drug's structure can influence its...
Cancer02:18

Cancer

Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.
Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets01:29

Pharmacogenomics: 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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

Potentiation of Anticancer Antibody Efficacy by Antineoplastic Drugs: Detection of Antibody-drug Synergism Using the Combination Index Equation
15:04

Potentiation of Anticancer Antibody Efficacy by Antineoplastic Drugs: Detection of Antibody-drug Synergism Using the Combination Index Equation

Published on: January 19, 2019

Serendipity in anticancer drug discovery.

Emily Hargrave-Thomas1, Bo Yu, Jóhannes Reynisson

  • 1Emily Hargrave-Thomas, Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.

World Journal of Clinical Oncology
|January 17, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Serendipity plays a crucial role in drug discovery, contributing to 24.1% of marketed drugs. This phenomenon is particularly significant in developing anticancer and central nervous system drugs.

Keywords:
Anticancer drugsDrug discovery and developmentSerendipity

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Assessing Specificity of Anticancer Drugs In Vitro
09:39

Assessing Specificity of Anticancer Drugs In Vitro

Published on: March 23, 2016

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Last Updated: May 25, 2026

Potentiation of Anticancer Antibody Efficacy by Antineoplastic Drugs: Detection of Antibody-drug Synergism Using the Combination Index Equation
15:04

Potentiation of Anticancer Antibody Efficacy by Antineoplastic Drugs: Detection of Antibody-drug Synergism Using the Combination Index Equation

Published on: January 19, 2019

Assessing Specificity of Anticancer Drugs In Vitro
09:39

Assessing Specificity of Anticancer Drugs In Vitro

Published on: March 23, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Drug Discovery
  • Medicinal Chemistry

Background:

  • Serendipitous discoveries have historically contributed to pharmaceutical advancements.
  • Understanding the prevalence and impact of serendipity is vital for optimizing drug development strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the contribution of serendipity to the discovery of marketed drugs.
  • To analyze the impact of serendipity across different therapeutic areas, including oncology and central nervous system disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of marketed drugs and their discovery pathways.
  • Categorization of drug discovery origins: laboratory incidents, clinical settings, and derivatives of serendipitously discovered drugs.

Main Results:

  • 5.8% of all drugs (84/1437) involved serendipity in their initial discovery.
  • 3.7% were found in clinical settings and 2.2% from laboratory incidents.
  • 18.3% are chemical derivatives of serendipitously found drugs, totaling 24.1% (347/1437) of all drugs.
  • Anticancer drugs show a higher serendipitous discovery rate (35.2%) compared to the overall average.
  • Central nervous system drugs have benefited most from serendipity, highlighting challenges in targeted design.

Conclusions:

  • Serendipity is a significant, quantifiable factor in drug discovery, impacting over a quarter of all marketed drugs.
  • The high incidence of serendipitous discoveries in CNS and anticancer drugs underscores their importance in these challenging therapeutic fields.
  • Recognizing and fostering serendipitous events can enhance pharmaceutical innovation and address unmet medical needs.