Research and Markets: Pharmaceutical Companies are unlikely to Maintain current levels of Profitability without creation of additional Well-Validated Targets.

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c8929) has announced the addition of Post-Genomic Target Validation: Next-Generation Approaches and Tools for Optimizing Target Selection to their offering

(PRWEB) November 10, 2004 -- A fundamental paradigm shift from traditional to genomics-based drug discovery is taking place. This is due not only to the vast field of opportunity opened up by the advent of the new technologies, but also because of the diminishing returns, in terms of new drugs reaching the market, of traditional drug discovery.

However, while genomics has yielded a wealth of potential new targets, for the vast majority of them very little is known about their function, role in cellular pathways, or connection to disease. Target validation thus becomes the central issue in the success or failure of large-scale drug discovery. With steadily growing drug development costs, depleted pipelines, and no prospective blockbusters on the horizon, many companies are relying on novel targets to reach or maintain profitability. Researchers must find the means to choose the best among these drug targets early in the process to reduce costly attrition rates, underscoring the urgent need for target validation technologies that will allow for more efficient drug discovery and development.

This report evaluates the progress that has occurred over the last couple of years in this field, as well as efforts going forward in the race to develop innovative target validation technologies that will yield the most promising drug leads. Based on expert commentary and extensive secondary research, Post-Genomic Target Validation profiles the efforts of the leading competitors in this field to sift through the post-genomic data deluge, prioritize targets, and optimize resources to develop the most promising leads. This report comprehensively evaluates the tools and approaches for each step in finding druggable targets-target identification, target characterization, and target validation-and how these tools and approaches differ depending on the type of platform involved. An extensive chapter devoted to target validation examines the limitations of certain technologies, and how to use these tools together for maximum effect. Other critical areas covered in this report include the introduction of RNA interference (RNAi) technology for gene silencing, and the elucidation of biochemical pathways.

This Report Analyzes Critical Issues in Target Validation:

- Efforts to use proteomic techniques for target validation.

- The challenges of using RNAi technology, especially with respect to in vivo target validation in mammalian systems.

- Strategies to uncover the biological function of the vast majority of new targets provided by genomics.

- The problem of producing high-quality libraries of small molecule compounds that can address large numbers of targets.

- How different genomics-based drug discovery strategies are affected by the target validation problem.

- The overlap between target identification, characterization, and validation, and the tools used to accomplish them.

Thought Leaders Interviewed for This Report include:

Alan J. Buckler, Ardais Corporation

Michael Coon, Cell Therapeutics, Inc.

David Dorris, Ambion Inc.

Richard Glynne, Phenomix

Timothy Hoey, Tularik

Leodevico L. Ilag, Xerion Pharmaceuticals AG

Mehran Khodadoust and Thomas Klein, Bionaut Pharma Kirsten Mundt, Esbatech

James Summerton, Gene Tools

Brian P. Zambrowicz, Lexicon Genetics

Company Profiles include:

Ambion Inc.

Ardais

atugen

Cellomics Inc.

Cellular Genomics Inc.

Cenix BioScience GmbH

Dharmacon

ESBATech AG

Exelixis

GPC Biotech AG

Immusol

Infinity Pharmaceuticals

Lexicon Genetics

NeoGenesis

Nucleonics Inc.

Rigel

Sangamo Biosciences

Sequitur

Xenogen

Zygogen

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c8929

Laura Wood

Senior Manager

Research and Markets

press@researchandmarkets.com

Fax: +353 1 4100 980

###