BioSeeker launches new report "Ion Channels as Therapeutic Targets for Multiple Diseases"
Ion channels play an important role in
numerous cell types and occur as large families of related genes with
cell-specific expression patterns. Considering the publication of the
human genome and the progress in transcription profiling revealing the
tissue specific distributions of ion channels, they will play a much more
important role as therapeutic drug targets in the future. These
advancements combined with cell-based assays providing biologically
relevant information to genomic and proteomic information will make ion
channels a favorable class of selective, tissue specific, drug targets.
Currently, there are active pharmaceutical research and development
programs involving ion channels in a number of areas, including asthma,
inflammation, arrhythmia and CNS disorders.
Several disease states are related to
dysfunctional ion channels. Among prominent groups are cardiac
arrhythmias, diabetes, hypertension, angina pectoris and epilepsy. Several
drugs already marketed have generated substantial revenues for the
companies.
Already today, drugs targeting ion channels
generates over 6 billion dollars in sales per annum. According to the FDA,
the number of new approved drugs targeting ion channels is equal to or
even higher than that for drugs targeting proteases, polymerases and
reverse transcriptases. But, inspite of their remarkable physiological
value, ion channels have stayed a relatively unexploited therapeutic
target class, especially in comparison to target areas such as G-protein
coupled receptors or kinases. Major challenges for high throughput
screening (HTS) with high information content have been the main limiting
factor for an explosion in R&D.
BioSeeker Group AB has recognized the
interest and need for a continuous surveillance within the field of ion
channels as targets for drug discovery. This report includes market
outlooks and updated information on ion channel targets related to
diseases such as urinary incontinence, multiple sclerosis, diabetes,
inflammation, pain and CNS disorders such as epilepsy and depression.
Scientific advancements are presented in relation to each disease group.
Further, the report comments on new ion channel drug discovery
technologies.
Technological breakthroughs have been made
for drug discovery tools applied in the hunt for novel therapeutics
targeting ion channels. BioSeeker Group has in identified improvements for
new drug discovery platforms that have the potential for substantially
improve HTS. According to a distinguished scientist and product
developers, technologies will have to change to collect more data on each
individual experiment and a need for more human settings is also clear.
Technologies such as molecular targeting imaging with local electrical
data and 3D-anatomical pictures will probably be tools frequently used in
the future.
The report also includes a coverage of the
conference Ion Channels in drug discovery & development held 24-25
October this year. Key alliances and company activities are also
described.
Apart from the pharma industry itself, this
report is of value to investors, science incubators, investigators,
contract research organizations or any other types of organization that
have an interest in new antifungal therapies.
Companies Included in this Report
Abbott Laboratories , Amersham BioSciences
, ASTA Medica , AstraZeneca, Aurora BioSciences , AVIVA Biosciences, Axon
Instruments, Axxam s.r.l , Bayer , Caliper Technologies, Cellectricon AB,
CeNeS Pharmaceuticals, Elan Pharmaceuticals , Essen Instruments , Evotec/Genion,
Icagen Inc, Merck , Molecular Devices/Cytion, Nanion Technologies,
Neuromed Technologies Inc, Neurosearch, NIMBUS Biotechnology , Novartis ,
Parion Sciences , RW Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute,
Schering-Plough , Sophion Bioscience, Wyeth Corp, Xention Discovery.
Publication: November 2002
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