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A new €32 million project aimed at understanding drug-induced liver injury is the latest of several collaborative efforts that could help drug firms better test for candidate-killing toxicity signals.
Jane Reese-Coulbourne, executive director of the Reagan-Udall Foundation, discusses how long-awaited federal funding will be used to support the FDA's regulatory science.
This article investigates current unmet needs in the treatment of sleep disorders, and how understanding of their molecular biology has led to the development of exciting pipeline candidates.
A growing number of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are being identified as sensors for ligands that are energy substrates or metabolic intermediates, and their central role in the coordination of metabolic processes is increasingly being recognized. Offermanns and colleagues summarize the function of these metabolite-sensing GPCRs in physiology and disease, and discuss the emerging pharmacological agents that are being developed to target these GPCRs for the treatment of metabolic disorders.
Manz and colleagues discuss recent progress in the development of microfluidic techniques (lab-on-a-chip technology) and their applications in drug discovery. Highlights include high-throughput droplet technology and applications such as 'organs on a chip', which could help reduce reliance on animal testing.
Blockade of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1) is emerging as an effective approach for the treatment of an increasing number of diseases. Here, Dinarello and colleagues discuss the pathogenic roles of IL-1, present therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating the activity of this cytokine and review clinical trial data for multiple indications.