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Information technologies already have a key role in pharmaceutical research and development (R&D), but achieving substantial advances in their use and effectiveness will depend on overcoming current challenges in sharing, integrating and jointly analysing the range of data generated at different stages of the R&D process.
Roche's bitopertin failed to improve the negative symptoms of schizophrenia in two pivotal trials, raising questions about the therapeutic potential of glycinergic neuromodulation.
Therapeutic approaches to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are varied and recent approvals have diversified treatment options. Here, Mushtaq discusses the current COPD pipeline and provides a market outlook for newly approved and late-stage drugs.
Aquaporin channels — which facilitate water transport across plasma membranes — are involved in epithelial fluid secretion, cell migration, brain oedema and adipocyte metabolism. Here, the authors discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting aquaporin channels as well as associated challenges, such as the suitability of assay methods.
Reduced number and function of insulin-secreting β-cells is a prominent feature of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Wagner and colleagues discuss strategies to promote β-cell proliferation, survival and function for the treatment of diabetes, and consider ongoing challenges to drug development efforts that are aimed at targeting this cell population.
Inhibitors of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs), which regulate concentrations of the key signalling intermediates cAMP and cGMP, are well established as drugs for disorders including erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. This article discusses how recent understanding of the roles of individual PDEs in regulating the subcellular compartmentalization of specific cyclic nucleotide signalling pathways is aiding the development of more sophisticated strategies to target individual PDE variants.
