Target Identification and Validation in Early Drug Discovery

Target Identification

Involves identifying specific molecules or biological entities (targets) that play a key role in a disease process and could be potential targets for therapeutic intervention. In the context of drug screening, target identification helps researchers and pharmaceutical companies understand the underlying mechanisms of a disease and find molecules that can modulate the activity of these targets to treat the condition.

• Identify specific molecules (such as proteins, enzyme or receptors) or biological entities that could be potential targets for therapeutic intervention

• Validate if a particular biological target is a viable and effective point for therapeutic intervention

• Target identification and validation are crucial steps in the drug screening and discovery process

Target Validation

Involves assessing whether a particular biological target is a viable and effective point for therapeutic intervention. In the context of drug development, a target is usually a molecule (such as a protein, enzyme, or receptor) that is involved in a disease process and has the potential to be modulated by a drug to bring about a therapeutic effect. The goal of target validation is to determine whether the selected target is indeed relevant to the disease in question and whether modulating its activity will lead to a meaningful therapeutic outcome.