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Biopharmaceutical and generic companies alike are investing in the follow-on biologics space in advance of patent expirations of major therapeutic protein products from 2013 onwards.
Recent clinical trials have raised questions about the perceived advantages of second-generation 'atypical' antipsychotics over older drugs. This article discusses how broadening of the concept of 'atypicality' — originally related purely to a lack of extrapyramidal side effects — might have hampered the search for better antipsychotics, and proposes that redefining the concept could be key for breakthroughs in schizophrenia therapy.
By analysing the physicochemical properties of a database of hits and leads, Keserü and Makara conclude that high-throughput screening, as well as hit-to-lead optimization practices in general, are responsible for the unfavourable physicochemical profile of recent leads and clinical candidates. Major adjustments may be needed to enable a balanced lead-evolution process and reduce the likelihood of high compound-related attrition in clinical trials.
The field of cancer chemoprevention has reported its first major successes, but broad translation to the clinic is not yet a reality. Here, Lippman and colleagues review the unique challenges encountered in this field, and the promise of personalized, molecularly targeted chemoprevention strategies.
Oligosaccharides are key to the mode of action of recombinant monoclonal antibodies. This article reviews current understanding of the role of antibody glycosylation on antibody effector function and the strategies that are being explored to produce homogeneous natural antibody glycoforms with optimized therapeutic efficacy.
The central roles of members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family in human developmental processes and disease have been well documented. In their Review, Beenken and Mohammadi discuss the more established applications of FGF-related therapies in the treatment of cancer and cardiovascular disease, emphasizing their potential to modulate aspects of the metabolic syndrome and hypophosphataemic diseases.
