Pharmaceutical agents in the year 2010

It is predicted that by the year 2010, pharmaceutical agents will be designed with greater targeting specificity. Major technological advances in drug development have been achieved during the latter half of the 20th century. Several of these technologies will provide the foundation for the development of the next generation of pharmaceutical agents. These agents will provide greater specificity in drug targeting and also have enhanced biological activity. Importantly, many macromolecules, such as proteins and glycoproteins, currently restricted to intravenous administration will be redesigned into small nonpeptidyl mimic agents, allowing for oral administration. Another major difference between agents of today and those of the future will include the drug delivery vehicle. Future drugs may come in the form of recombinant viral vectors, which will then be able to deliver the desired gene. Enhanced delivery vehicles will include liposomes that can protect host tissues from toxicities, while increasing specificity to the desired target site. Other anticipated advance will occur in the ability to provide "real-time" monitoring of physiologically and molecular effects.