Back to basics: From genes to medicines

Determining the relationship of new genes identified through large scale sequencing efforts to a disease and the utility of these genes as drug targets will be a complex process that will involve studying old-fashioned biology and the structure-activity relationships of gene products and their ligands. Before this data can be used in the drug discovery process, the function and distribution patterns of each gene must be identified by studying them in model organisms, identifying protein-protein interactions and signalling pathways and determining protein structure. At the end of the day, a lead molecule, even when selective and specific for the new target, must promise (and later, demonstrate) utility in man.