The Untapped Opportunity and Challenge of Immunometabolism: A New Paradigm for Drug Discovery

Here, we explore the manipulation of immune cell metabolism as a strategy in target discovery and drug development for immune-mediated diseases. Comparing exploitation of metabolic pathways to kill tumor cells for cancer treatment with the reprogramming of immune cells to treat autoimmune diseases highlights differences that confer several advantages to the latter (including a more favorable therapeutic index and greater target stability). We discuss technological capabilities and gaps, including the challenge of relating in vitro observations to in vivo biology. Finally, we conclude by identifying future opportunities that will move the field forward and accelerate drug discovery.