Category: Drug discovery

Nobel laureates Gertrude Elion and George Hitchings, along with William Lange, synthesized azathioprine in 1956 as a derivative of their earlier discovery, 6-mercaptopurine. Their work answered the question of who discovered the drug azathioprine and fundamentally changed the approach to drug development.

More than 50% of all FDA-approved drugs are derived from or inspired by natural products, showcasing nature's crucial role in medicine. Discover what are the famous natural product drugs and their surprising origins, from the opium poppy to common molds, which have been instrumental in treating and curing diseases for centuries.

The 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded for the discovery of avermectin, the compound from which ivermectin is derived [1.9.4]. So, what is the natural source of ivermectin and how did this discovery change modern medicine?

First published in 1997, Lipinski's Rule of Five has since become a foundational principle in drug development, influencing how billions of dollars are spent in research. Understanding **why is Lipinski's rule important** is crucial for anyone in medicinal chemistry, as it helps predict a molecule's potential for oral bioavailability early in the discovery process.

The average cost of developing a single new drug can exceed two billion dollars and take over a decade to reach market. This incredible expenditure and lengthy process highlight why understanding **what are the two methods of drug design** is so crucial for modern pharmaceutical innovation. Moving away from a traditional trial-and-error approach, rational drug design employs two primary, computer-aided strategies to identify, create, and optimize drug candidates more efficiently.

First misidentified as a type of opioid receptor in the 1970s, modern pharmacology now recognizes that sigma ($σ$) receptors are a unique class of proteins involved in a wide array of cellular functions. The compelling question, "What is sigma primarily used for?", leads to a diverse list of potential therapeutic applications, including the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, neurodegenerative conditions, and chronic pain.

Peptide-based drugs often have short half-lives in the body due to rapid degradation by proteases, with half-lives sometimes less than an hour. This critical limitation prompts the question: are peptoids better than peptides for therapeutic applications? This article explores the key differences in structure, pharmacology, and potential applications.

Recent studies have identified **Cypin** as a key protein involved in regulating synaptic connections in the brain, a breakthrough with potential implications for treating neurodegenerative diseases. However, confusion often arises with "Cypin Syrup," a separate medication containing the active antihistamine, cyproheptadine.

Benzofuran derivatives are found in thousands of natural products and are the basis for numerous pharmaceuticals due to their versatile biological activity. Researchers and chemists are continually intrigued by this heterocyclic core, which forms the structural framework for a wide array of medicinally important organic compounds. This guide will detail what are the medical applications of benzofuran.

With projections estimating 10 million deaths annually by 2050 due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the discovery of new antibiotics is a global health priority [1.6.2]. **What is lariocidin?** It is a novel, naturally occurring lasso peptide antibiotic with a unique structure and mechanism for combating multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens [1.2.2, 1.3.6].