Abstract
The current state of affairs in the drug discovery and development process is briefly summarized and then ways to take advantage of the ever-increasing fundamental knowledge and technical knowhow in chemistry and biology and related disciplines are discussed. The primary motivation of this Essay is to celebrate the great achievements of chemistry, biology, and medicine and to inform and inspire students and academics to enter the field of drug discovery and development while, at the same time, continue to advance the fundamentals of their disciplines. It is also meant to encourage and catalyze multidisciplinary partnerships between academia and industry as scientists attempt to merge their often complementary interests and expertise to achieve new improvements and breakthroughs in their respective fields, and the common goal of applying them to the discovery and invention of new and better medicines, especially in areas of unmet needs.
Concerted effort: What is the current state of the art and science of drug design and discovery? How can the cooperation between academic investigators and industry be improved? This Essay is meant to inspire and motivate, especially those in academia, to think about how to use their expertise to contribute to the drug discovery and development process. Photograph: Fotolia.