Drug Development Basic Research
The process of drug discovery and development begins with basic scientific research. Studies in three categories are usually carried out during this stage: 1) Biological Screening and Pharmacological Testing: these are studies to explore the pharmacological activity and therapeutic potential of compounds; 2) Pharmaceutical Dosage Formulation and Stability Testing: The process of turning an active compound into a form and strength suitable for human use; 3) Toxicology and Safety Testing: Tests to determine the potential risk a compound poses to animals, tissue cultures, and other test systems prior to their human introduction.
Drug screening process consists of testing many compounds in assays relevant to the disease of interest. If a compound or its structural derivatives continue to show promise after further biological and chemical characters, they are potential leads to enter the formal drug development process.
Resources
The research process is complicated, time-consuming, costly and the end result is never guaranteed. Following are some useful regulations and guidance that the US FDA published for the basic research of drug development:
• Lead Identification - ARE THESE SUPPOSED TO BE LINKS?
• Synthesis Scale-up
• In-Vitro Pharmacology
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Handbook
Guidance on ICH Q6A: Test Procedures and Acceptance Criteria for New Drug Substances and New Drug Products: Chemical Substances - THIS IS QUITE OLD
Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC)
Guidance for Industry: S7A Safety Pharmacology Studies for Human Pharmaceuticals
Guidance for Industry S6 Preclinical Safety Evaluation of Biotechnology-Derived Pharmaceuticals
Next Page - Clinical Trials for Drugs