Drug Discovery, Development, Delivery and Utilization 
Pharmaceutical Research at PCOM

The overarching goals of pharmaceutical research are to design and test drugs to increase efficacy and reduce side effects; monitor drug utilization; and improve access to therapeutics. The first step in drug discovery is the identification of potential molecular targets that can be stimulated or repressed for therapeutic purposes. Our researchers collaborate with a bioinformatics specialist to integrate and interpret complex molecular interactions and a data analyst to evaluate the impact of healthcare policies on medication utilization and cost-effectiveness.

Drug discovery, development, and delivery encompass the process of bringing new medications from the early stages of research to their availability for patient use. It involves a series of coordinated steps and scientific efforts aimed at identifying and developing safe and effective drugs to treat various diseases. The steps include:

Drug Discovery - Identify and design prospective drug compounds that have the potential to interact with specific disease targets or pathways. Researchers may use computational modeling, high-throughput screening and natural product isolation to identify promising compounds that exhibit therapeutic properties.

Drug Development - Once potential drug candidates are identified, they undergo extensive testing in preclinical studies. These studies assess the safety, pharmacokinetics (how the drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized and eliminated by the body), and efficacy of the compounds in animal models.

Clinical Trials - Clinical trials are conducted in several phases to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the drug in larger populations. Researchers test the drug's safety, dosage, and effectiveness in human volunteers in several phases that increase the number of participants and monitoring details.

Regulatory Approval - Following successful clinical trials, drug developers submit an application to regulatory authorities for approval to market the drug. Regulatory agencies review the data from preclinical and clinical studies to ensure the drug's safety, efficacy, and quality meet established safety standards.

Drug Delivery - Drug delivery refers to the mechanisms and methods used to administer drugs to patients. Drug delivery systems can include oral tablets, injectables, transdermal patches, inhalers or other specialized devices.