What is the Drug Discovery Process?

Drug discovery is a complicated and expensive process that can take years for a drug to finally come to market. In this week's podcast we walk you through the process of drug discovery looking through the lens of cystic fibrosis. We explain the many steps including screens for different drug compounds, the different phases of testing and the vast regulations that drugs in the US are under to protect people! Finally, we link this back to COVID-19 and some of the drugs that are currently being tested to see if they help treat COVID-19 symptoms. 

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Sources

Cystic Fibrosis: https://www.cff.org/a

Cystic Fibrosis: https://www.cff.org/Research/About-Our-Research/Research-Milestones/

Cystic Fibrosis: https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/CFTR#:~:text=Normal%20Function,%2C%20tears%2C%20and%20digestive%20enzymes.

Ivacaftor discovery: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3770629/pdf/dddt-7-929.pdf

Original Ivacaftor screen: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16443646/

Ivacaftor company: https://investors.vrtx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/fda-approves-kalydecotm-ivacaftor-first-medicine-treat

Ivacaftor clinical trials: https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/projects/ivacaftor-treatment-for-cystic-fibrosis/

Follow-up characterization: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2773991/

Drug discovery process: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22930/

Drug discovery process http://phrma-docs.phrma.org/sites/default/files/pdf/rd_brochure_022307.pdf

Drug discovery process: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/development-approval-process-drugs

Drug failure/approval: https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2019/05/09/the-latest-on-drug-failure-and-approval-rates

COVID-19 Treatments: https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/antiviral-therapy/chloroquine-or-hydroxychloroquine/

COVID-19 Treatments: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-issues-emergency-use-authorization-potential-covid-19-treatment

Right to Try: https://www.fda.gov/patients/learn-about-expanded-access-and-other-treatment-options/right-try

Hydroxychloroquine shortage: https://www.arthritis.org/drug-guide/medication-topics/plaquenil-shortage

Hydroxychloroquine shortage: https://www.lupus.org/news/fda-recognizes-hydroxychloroquine-and-chloroquine-shortages