THE FUTURE OF PHARMACOLOGICAL MODELS

Do pharmacological models have a future? This was the question that ha d to be answered during seminar n degrees 3 of the annual clinical pha rmacology 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 prag matic target of finding new active molecules. Among numerous models pr oposed by the participants, three tt pes have been selected as example s in this paper: a human model (cholecystokinin inducing panic attacks ), the goal of which is to discover new molecules active in panic diso rders. an animal model dose to clinical features (coronary restenosis) which was to dare unable to help in identifying molecules acting in h uman pathology. transgenic animals as tools in drug development. The g uidelines are very clear: models, however far they are from human path ology, are useful in predicting new molecular developments. Models are necessary steps to go from receptors to ill patients.