Every now and then I’ll read that drug X was originally created searching for a cure to disease A, but then they find out its a cure for B instead. How do scientists set out to design a chemical that does specific things? And is it just by chance they discover that it helps with, say, erectile dysfunction and market it that way? Especially when the addition of one atom can seemingly vastly change molecule properties.
In: Chemistry
I work in pharmaceutical research. The first step in drug development is identifying a specific molecular mechanism that plays a key role in a disease. There are tons of academic research papers being published monthly where potential links between these mechanisms and diseases are identified. Often, animal research models are used. These are specifically genetically modified organisms to test if changes to these key “molecular mechanisms” do indeed effect a specific disease. Next a class of molecules (ie potential drugs) are identified which will act on this “key molecular mechanism”. Lots of different variations of these potential drugs are tested in animal models to see which has the greatest effect modulating the expression of this “key molecular mechanism”. It is often here that the first signs of “secondary drug effects” can be first seen. A made up example might be: A drug administered in mice might not shrink their tumors but it’s observed that it makes them lose weight.
Theres honestly a ton more that goes into it, but that’s a small example of how a drug is developed and also how new potential uses for it are identified
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