Drug discovery: A historical perspective

Driven by chemistry but increasingly guided by pharmacology and the clinica l sciences, drug research has contributed more to the progress of medicine during the past century than any other scientific factor. The advent of mol ecular biology and, in particular, of genomic sciences is having a deep imp act on drug discovery. Recombinant proteins and monoclonal antibodies have greatly enriched our therapeutic armamentarium. Genome sciences, combined w ith bioinformatic tools, allow us to dissect the genetic basis of multifact orial diseases and to determine the most suitable points of attack for futu re medicines, thereby increasing the number of treatment options. The drama tic increase in the complexity of drug research is enforcing changes in the institutional basis of this interdisciplinary endeavor. The biotech indust ry is establishing itself as the discovery arm of the pharmaceutical indust ry. In bridging the gap between academia and Large pharmaceutical companies , the biotech firms have been effective instruments of technology transfer.