Table of contents
In this issue
p1 | doi:10.1038/nrd2500
Editorial: A precarious position
p3 | doi:10.1038/nrd2501
News and Analysis
2007: Spotlight on drug safety | PDF (868 KB)
p5 | doi:10.1038/nrd2503
News in Brief
Green light for gene-therapy trial | Public–private partnership to modernize clinical trials | Transatlantic application for orphan status | Drug makers agree billion dollar deals | UK requests regulation of genetic tests | Race for novel anticoagulants speeds up | PDF (980 KB)
p8 | doi:10.1038/nrd2504
Patent watch
Patent round up of 2007...and a look forward to 2008 | Histamine receptor antagonists | PDF (200 KB)
p10 | doi:10.1038/nrd2499
An Audience With
Anthony Fauci | PDF (135 KB)
p12 | doi:10.1038/nrd2491
From the analyst's couch
Trends in the globalization of clinical trials | PDF (310 KB)
p13 | doi:10.1038/nrd2441
Fresh from the Pipeline
Maraviroc | PDF (222 KB)
p15 | doi:10.1038/nrd2490
Research Highlights
Metabolic disease: New opportunity for serotonin receptor agonists | PDF (455 KB)
p17 | doi:10.1038/nrd2492
Cancer: Tuning anti-angiogenesis | PDF (178 KB)
p18 | doi:10.1038/nrd2495
Cancer: Short-circuit to tumour cell apoptosis | PDF (323 KB)
p18 | doi:10.1038/nrd2496
G-protein-coupled receptors: Crystal clear | PDF (240 KB)
p19 | doi:10.1038/nrd2493
Diabetes: Concentrating the benefits of red wine? | PDF (207 KB)
p20 | doi:10.1038/nrd2494
In brief
Chemical synthesis | Amyloid diseases | Biotechnology | G-protein-coupled receptors | PDF (294 KB)
p20 | doi:10.1038/nrd2497
Perspectives
Article series: A guide to drug discovery
Opinion
Protein therapeutics: a summary and pharmacological classification
Benjamin Leader, Quentin J. Baca & David E. Golan
p21 | doi:10.1038/nrd2399
The number and frequency of use of protein therapeutics has increased dramatically since the introduction of the first recombinant protein therapeutic — human insulin — 25 years ago. Golan and colleagues overview some of the key characteristics of protein therapeutics, summarize the more than 130 protein therapeutics used currently and suggest a new classification of these proteins based on their pharmacological action.
Reviews
The role of histamine H1 and H4 receptors in allergic inflammation: the search for new antihistamines
Robin L. Thurmond, Erwin W. Gelfand & Paul J. Dunford
p41 | doi:10.1038/nrd2465
Traditional antihistamines that antagonize the histamine H1 receptor have long been used to treat allergic inflammatory conditions, but so far have proved largely ineffective in other disorders exhibiting elevated histamine levels, including asthma and pruritus. This Review discusses how the identification and understanding of the roles of the histamine H4 receptor has revealed the potential of targeting H4 receptors or combined H1 and H4 receptor blockade to treat such disorders.
Microscopic imaging techniques for drug discovery
Andrew Bullen
p54 | doi:10.1038/nrd2446
Microscopic imaging can provide valuable information on disease processes and the effects of potential therapeutic interventions, but its application in drug discovery has been limited by issues related to spatial resolution, physical access and throughput. Bullen discusses recently introduced techniques and technologies that are addressing some of these issues, allowing existing assays and disease models to be enhanced and new ones to be developed.
Article series: Biomarkers
Neurophysiological biomarkers for drug development in schizophrenia
Daniel C. Javitt, Kevin M. Spencer, Gunvant K. Thaker, Georg Winterer & Mihály Hajós
p68 | doi:10.1038/nrd2463
Recent advances in neurophysiological techniques provide new opportunities to measure abnormal brain functions in patients with schizophrenia. In this article, Hajós and colleagues discuss the use of abnormal neurophysiological signals in schizophrenia for use as translational biomarkers.
Impact of lipoproteins on the biological activity and disposition of hydrophobic drugs: implications for drug discovery
Kishor M. Wasan, Dion R. Brocks, Stephen D. Lee, Kristina Sachs-Barrable & Sheila J. Thornton
p84 | doi:10.1038/nrd2353
The association of drugs with lipoproteins can affect their pharmacological and toxicological activities. Here, the authors discuss the mechanisms of drug uptake into lipoproteins and the impact of such interactions, ways to improve the therapeutic profile of hydrophobic drugs, and the ensuing opportunities for drug discovery and development programmes.
Careers and Recruitment
Corrigendum: The way forward in HCV treatment — finding the right path
Michael P. Manns, Graham R. Foster, Jürgen K. Rockstroh, Stefan Zeuzem, Fabien Zoulim & Michael Houghton
p102 | doi:10.1038/nrd2498
