What are the Key Steps in the Drug Screening Process?
The drug screening process typically involves several steps:
Target identification: Determining the biological target, such as a specific protein or gene, that the drug will interact with. Compound library preparation: Assembling a collection of chemical compounds to be tested. Assay development: Creating a test system to measure the interaction between the compound and the target. Screening: Testing the compounds using the developed assay to identify hits (compounds that show desired activity). Hit validation: Confirming the activity of the hits through secondary assays and additional testing. Lead optimization: Modifying the chemical structure of hits to improve their efficacy, selectivity, and safety. Preclinical testing: Conducting in vivo studies to evaluate the drug's pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicity.
