For many years, pharmaceutical research companies have developed new drugs using a standard drug discovery process. The process usually begins with extensive medical research about a particular disease, which provides researchers with a better understanding of the disease and how it affects the body. The next step of the drug discovery process typically involves target identification and target validation.

2.  For many years, pharmaceutical research
companies have developed new drugs
using a standard drug discovery process.
The process usually begins with extensive
medical research about a particular
disease, which provides researchers with a
better understanding of the disease and
how it affects the body. The next step of the
drug discovery process typically involves
target identification and target validation.

3.  In general, drugs fight disease by targeting a
specific molecule or set of highly similar
molecules within the body. Researchers begin
by identifying a molecule that plays a role in
the disease they are attempting to treat. Often
a protein or a gene, the target molecule must
be able to interact with and be affected by
drug molecules. Once researchers identify a
target molecule, they must prove that it
actually causes the disease and can be
affected by drugs. In order to accomplish this,
scientists conduct a broad range of
experiments with living cells and animal
models.