Drug substances: mechanism of action
Classification of drug substances according to their mechanism of action
This is a pharmaceutical-chemical approach that we developed in our group seminars. We collated a list with one or more representatives of nearly all approved drug types, organised according to molecular target. We published this as an invited review in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. In this extensive review, we discuss the definition of 'target' in times of emerging systems biology, and define drug targets as follows: "In situations in which the dynamic actions of the drug substance stimulate, or inhibit, a biological process, it is necessary to move away from the descriptions of single proteins, receptors, and so on and view the targets entire signal chain. An effective drug target comprises of a biochemical system rather than a single molecule. " Another invited review focussed on the molecular targets of natural substances used medicinally, appearing in 'Planta Medica'.
Publications:
P. Imming, T. Buss, L. A. Dailey, A. Meyer, H. Morck, M. Ramadan, T. Rogosch, A classification of drug substances according to their mechanism of action. Pharmazie 2004, 59, 579-589.
P. Imming, C. Sinning, A. Meyer, Drugs, their targets and the nature and number of drug targets. Nature Rev. Drug Discov. 2006, 5, 821-834. DOI: 10.1038/nrd2132
P. Imming, "Medicinal Chemistry: Definitions and Objectives, Phases Drug Activity, Drug Classification System." In "The Practice of Medicinal Chemistry" (Ed. CG Wermuth), Academic Press, Amsterdam 3rd Edition 2008 (ISBN-13: 978-0123741943).
P. Imming, Molecular Targets of Natural Drug Substances: Idiosyncrasies and Preferences. Planta Med 2010, 76, 1-8. DOI:10.1055/s-0030-1250236