[The future of pharmacological models]

Do pharmacological models have a future? This was the question that had to be answered during seminar n.3 of the annual clinical pharmacology meeting in GIENS. The concept of 'model' is very extensive: it comprises both simple physiological testing and the replication in animals of human diseases. The main problems of pharmacological models are their predictive value and their validity in relation to the pragmatic target of finding new active molecules. Among numerous models proposed by the participants, three types have been selected as examples in this paper: a human model (cholecystokinin inducing panic attacks), the goal of which is to discover new molecules active in panic disorders. an animal model close to clinical features (coronary restenosis) which was to date unable to help in identifying molecules acting in human pathology transgenic animals as tools in drug development. The guidelines are very clear: models, however far they are from human pathology, are useful in predicting new molecular developments. Models are necessary steps to go from receptors to ill patients.