Table of contents
January 2009 Vol 8 No 1
In this issue
p1 | doi:10.1038/nrd2801
Editorial: Beyond the crunch
p3 | doi:10.1038/nrd2802
News and Analysis
News feature: 2008 in reflection | PDF (486 KB)
p5 | doi:10.1038/nrd2797
News in Brief
Merck takes initiative to study cardiovascular effects of diabetes drug | New UK pricing agreement to reflect clinical value | US follow-on biologics debate revived | Open innovation challenge solved | Investment bank announces plans for new model for R&D financing | EC proposes pharma reform | PDF (471 KB)
p8 | doi:10.1038/nrd2798
Biobusiness Briefs
Regulatory watch: Non-inferiority-trial discussions impact new drug applications | PDF (191 KB)
p10 | doi:10.1038/nrd2793
Regulatory watch: FDA PDUFA goals missed | PDF (128 KB)
p10 | doi:10.1038/nrd2794
Trial watch: Protease inhibitors show promise against HCV | PDF (128 KB)
p11 | doi:10.1038/nrd2795
Patent watch
European Patent Office's stem-cell decision | Key events of 2008 | Chemokine receptor antagonists | PDF (304 KB)
p12 | doi:10.1038/nrd2799
An Audience With
Steven Paul | PDF (150 KB)
p14 | doi:10.1038/nrd2800
Lilly's Executive Vice President of Science and Technology, discusses the company's R&D strategy.
From the analyst's couch
Do molecularly targeted agents in oncology have reduced attrition rates? | PDF (267 KB)
p15 | doi:10.1038/nrd2758
Fresh from the Pipeline
Tetrabenazine | PDF (219 KB)
p17 | doi:10.1038/nrd2784
Research Highlights
Antiviral Drugs: Exposed target for broad-spectrum antivirals | PDF (334 KB)
p19 | doi:10.1038/nrd2788
Type 1 diabetes: New link to kinases as targets | PDF (179 KB)
p20 | doi:10.1038/nrd2785
Analgesia: Uncoupling NMDA receptor interactions | PDF (185 KB)
p20 | doi:10.1038/nrd2786
Anticancer drugs: Targeting triple-negative breast cancer | PDF (277 KB)
p21 | doi:10.1038/nrd2789
Neurological disease: Unsticking for seizure prevention | PDF (153 KB)
p22 | doi:10.1038/nrd2787
In brief
Neuromuscular disease | HIV | Malaria | Physiology | PDF (188 KB)
p22 | doi:10.1038/nrd2790
Perspectives
Opinion
Chemokine receptor antagonists: overcoming developmental hurdles
Richard Horuk
p23 | doi:10.1038/nrd2734
This Opinion highlights some of the recent failures in the clinical trials of chemokine receptor antagonists, explores possible reasons as to why these might have occurred and looks at potential solutions to generate effective chemokine receptor antagonist therapeutics.
Opinion
Is NF-
B a good target for cancer therapy? Hopes and pitfalls
Véronique Baud & Michael Karin
p33 | doi:10.1038/nrd2781
The nuclear factor 
B (NF-B) signalling pathway has been implicated in cancer development and progression, as well as in resistance to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In this Perspective, Baud and Karin explore the therapeutic potential of targeting NF-B in cancer, and discuss the challenges posed by this approach.
Reviews
Allosteric modulators of GPCRs: a novel approach for the treatment of CNS disorders
P. Jeffrey Conn, Arthur Christopoulos & Craig W. Lindsley
p41 | doi:10.1038/nrd2760
G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent one of the most targeted protein families in pharmaceutical research. Traditionally, drug discovery programmes have searched for ligands that act at endogenous orthosteric sites. Here, Conn and colleagues discuss recent advances in the identification of novel GPCR ligands that act at allosteric sites, highlighting their potential in the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders.
Transient receptor potential channels: targeting pain at the source
Ardem Patapoutian, Simon Tate & Clifford J. Woolf
p55 | doi:10.1038/nrd2757
Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are the most prominent family of nociceptive ion-channel transducer proteins. This Review highlights evidence supporting particular TRP channels as targets for analgesics, indicates the likely efficacy profiles of TRP-channel-acting compounds and looks at recent clinical trials with TRP-channel-acting drugs.
Drug development from marine natural products
Tadeusz F. Molinski, Doralyn S. Dalisay, Sarah L. Lievens & Jonel P. Saludes
p69 | doi:10.1038/nrd2487
Marine natural products provide a rich source of drug leads. Using selected examples, Molinski and colleagues review the history of marine natural drug development, examine the unique challenges in this field, and discuss recent advances that may expand the promise of 'drugs from the sea'.
