The drug discovery process and the role of biomarkers in achieving personalized medicine

This module is a part of the course “Managing Drug Discovery: from concept to market.” The objective of the course is to provide students with basic notions of the drug discovery process, from the identification of molecular targets to clinical development. Students will learn the key steps in the drug discovery and development process and understand how unmet medical needs are driving the research strategy. The role of biomarkers in drug discovery will also be discussed, to enable students to become familiar with the concept of personalized Medicine and companion diagnostics.

• Overview of the drug discovery process
• From target identification to first time in humans
• The clinical development process
• Biomarkers in drug discovery
• The paradigm of companion diagnostics and personalized medicine

Lectures developed from the integration of key textbook material with review papers and specific examples. At least one selected article or review per lecture will be made available to students, with the objective to provide a research-centered perspective of the concepts described in class.

Drug Discovery and Development: Technology in Transition, Hill and Rang Eds