Title: Product development tools to enhance drug discovery

Authors: Andrea M. Stahl, Michael Adler, Charles B. Millard, Lynne Gilfillan

Addresses: US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Integrated Toxicology Division, 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, MD 21702-5011, USA. ' US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, 3100 Ricketts Point Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5400, USA. ' Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910-7500, USA. ' BioRosettex, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 2800, Arlington, VA 22209-2268, USA

Abstract: The drug discovery |pipeline| guides the evolution of therapeutic products from initial discovery to clinical trials. Given limited resources, optimisation of this process is critical and can be addressed through the creation of product development tools. Strong drug candidates for botulism have yet to be identified, but with continued and focused efforts it is likely a lead candidate will emerge. Formal description of the desired therapeutic product, and a mechanism to evaluate potential drug products, must be established to facilitate selection of promising inhibitor compounds. This approach will conserve resources and increase the probability of developing a successful therapeutic product. [Received 25 October 2007; Accepted 4 November 2007]

Keywords: botulinum neurotoxins; BoNT; target product profile; TPP; product development; drug discovery; therapeutic products; botulism; potential drugs; evaluation; inhibitor compounds; inhibitor compound selection.

DOI: 10.1504/TBJ.2008.018950

The Botulinum Journal, 2008 Vol.1 No.1, pp.7 - 13

Published online: 25 Jun 2008 *

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