Molecular biology

How AI is transforming drug discovery

Pharmaceutical companies and start-ups are harnessing AI to improve speed and reduce costs at every stage of the drug discovery and development process.…

The role of circulating tumour DNA in guiding cancer treatment and future applications

An overview of current and future applications of circulating tumour DNA in common solid tumours and the implications on treatment.…

We must follow these five rules to avert an antimicrobial resistance crisis

Simply reducing the use of antibiotics, while discovering new ones, is not enough to keep resistance at bay — healthcare professionals need to understand bacteria’s evolutionary biology if they are to subvert it.…

Queen’s Anniversary Prize for university pharmacology department and institute of cancer research

Pharmacologists at the University of Liverpool’s department of molecular and clinical pharmacology have been awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize in recognition of their work to improve the safety and effectiveness of medicines.…

Innovation in acne treatment is long overdue but the treatment pipeline looks promising

Current treatments for acne are effective but regimens are complex and side effects are common. Better understanding of the pathology of acne is leading to identification of new, safer, treatment targets, and dermatologists and researchers in the field are excited about the pipeline.…

Searching for new medicines to treat alcohol addiction

Only a few drugs are licensed to treat alcoholism and, although reasonably effective, they are not suitable for everyone. Increased understanding of the underlying neuroscience of alcohol addiction is revealing a wealth of new possible drug targets, and a number of trials are under way.…

Atopic dermatitis: emerging and current treatments

Atopic dermatitis affects up to 30% of children and 10% of adults, and is common in both developed and developing countries. Two new medicines on the brink of entering the market — dupilumab, a biologic for severe disease, and crisaborole, a topical small molecule drug for milder disease &mdas…

Cannabis for epilepsy: is there enough evidence of efficacy?

Parents of children with treatment-resistant epilepsy are searching for something to help, and some are turning to cannabis to try to reduce seizure frequency. With clinical trials of cannabidiol-based drugs under way, evidence for this treatment option may soon be forthcoming. However, concerns rem…

Osteoporosis: moving beyond bisphosphonates

Bisphosphonates are the mainstay of osteoporosis treatment but as more is elucidated about the underlying pathology of the condition, new drug targets are being investigated.…

Anti-inflammatory drugs could treat symptoms of depression

Anti-cytokine drugs typically prescribed to treat inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, can also improve symptoms of depression, according to new research.…