Pharmacology In Drug Discovery And Development !!hot!! < SIMPLE · 2027 >

Once a candidate has good PD (it hits the target) and good PK (it stays in the body long enough), it moves to preclinical testing. Here, pharmacology merges with toxicology.

This is the study of the biochemical and physiological effects of a drug. In the discovery phase, pharmacologists identify a "target"—usually a protein, receptor, or enzyme involved in a disease process. They ask: Does this molecule bind to the target? Does it turn the target on (agonist) or turn it off (antagonist)? Pharmacodynamics defines the therapeutic window, determining the range of dosage that provides efficacy without toxicity. pharmacology in drug discovery and development