Target Identification and Validation

An enzyme, receptor, nucleic acid, hormone, ion channel, membrane protein/s, or other cellular structure that is involved in a molecular-level knowledge of a certain disease is referred to as a target. Target identification is the initial step in the drug development program's computer-aided drug design process, and it's crucial to ensure that the chosen targets are responsible for the disease. The function of a potential therapeutic target (gene/protein) and its role in the disease are the first steps in target identification and characterization. Following the identification of the target, the molecular mechanisms addressed by the target are characterised. A good target should be effective, safe, and druggable while also meeting clinical and commercial needs.

Target validation is the initial step in identifying a novel medicine and can often take 2-6 months. The method comprises the application of a set of techniques that try to demonstrate that medication effects on the target can give a therapeutic benefit with an acceptable safety window. Early in-depth target validation improves understanding of the relationship between target alteration and disease efficacy, increasing the likelihood of clinical success. The research advances onto the hit identification phase once a target has reached an acceptable level of validation and disease correlation.

• Data Mining
• Genetic Association
• Expression Profile
• Pathway And Phenotypic Analysis
• Functional Screening
• Chemical Genomics