Search

Despite considerable technological advances, the pharmaceutical industry is experiencing a severe innovation deficit, especially in the discovery of new drugs. Innovative Approaches in Drug Discovery: Ethnopharmacology, Systems Biology and Holistic Targeting provides a critical review and analysis of health, disease and medicine, and explores possible reasons behind the present crisis in drug discovery. The authors illustrate the benefits of systems biology and pharmacogenomics approaches, and advocate the expansion from disease-centric discovery to person-centric therapeutics involving holistic, multi-target, whole systems approaches. This book lays a path for reigniting pharmaceutical innovation through a disciplined reemergence of pharmacognosy, embracing open innovation models and collaborative, trusted public-private partnerships. With unprecedented advances made in the development of biomedically-relevant tools and technologies, the need is great and the time is now for a renewed commitment towards expanding the repertoire of medicines. By incorporating real-life examples and state-of-the-art reviews, this book provides valuable insights into the discovery and development strategies for professionals, academicians, and students in the pharmaceutical sciences. - Analyzes the reasons behind historical drug failures to provide valuable insights on lessons learned - Uses current scientific research to promote learning from traditional knowledge systems and through the integration of traditional and western medicines - Discusses advances in technologies and systems biology to support the transition from formulation discovery to therapeutic discovery

Despite spectacular advances, modern medicine faces formidable global challenges in several key areas—notably the persistence of major killer diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy, and newer threats including HIV/AIDS, resistant infections, and Ebola. As such, modern medicine has not led to a significant decrease in chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity, and other degenerative and autoimmune diseases. The authors believe that modern medicine needs to experience a paradigm shift, an integration of traditions—in particular from the ancient systems like Ayurveda and Yoga. Integrative Approaches for Health: Biomedical Research, Ayurveda and Yoga brings together the basic principles of interdisciplinary systems approach for an evolving construct of future medicine. Such an approach is already emerging at the cutting edge of current research in omics, bioinformatics, computational and systems biology. Several leading institutions of medicine have adopted Yoga and complementary medicine to widen their reach, and deepen effectiveness in therapeutic practices. The amalgam of modern medicine, with its strengths in scientific rigor, blended with the basic principles of life drawn from Ayurveda and Yoga might evolve into a medicine of tomorrow. Integrative approaches are no longer alternative, perhaps taking these approaches is the only possible way to heal our sick planet. This book introduces important trends and tools for biomedical researchers and physicians alike, to innovate the practice of medicine for the better. - Contains a harmonious confluence of ancient and modern concepts, historical perspectives, philosophical underpinnings, and a relevant review of literature supported by worldwide case studies. - Provides a critical analysis of ancient wisdom, pointing to potential areas for future research, which provide food for thought for public debate on integrative health care for the twenty-first century. - Explains Ayurveda knowledge, and its relevance to drug discovery, nutrition, genomics, epigenetics, regenerative biology, longevity and personalized medicine. - Shares Yoga knowledge insights, and explains its relevance to body–mind complex relationships, psychology, neurobiology, immunoendocrinology, bioenergetics, consciousness, and cognitive sciences. - Offers illustrations and logic diagrams for enhanced understanding of the concepts presented.

While biotechnological advances, genomics and high throughput screenings or combinatorial and asymmetric syntheses are opening new opportunities in drug discovery, the industry is facing serious innovation deficit. The total number of new molecules registered per year has dropped in contrast to expected increase. Post marketing failures of blockbuster drugs have become major concerns of industries. On the other side, globally there is a major shift to sue of traditional medicine involving complementary and alternative therapies. Ethnopharmacology and traditional medicines have contributed in past significantly in the process of natural product drug discovery. There are two clear tracks where ethnopharmacology has potential to contribute in future drug research. First, as a discovery engine to provide new targets, leads, and second, use of quality assured and standardized traditional medicines. In this scenario, it is important to understand the mechanisms of drug discovery and pharmaceutical development with a focus on herbal drugs and neutraceutical. This book provides historical perspective, future prospects and significance of ethnopharmacology in drug research. It also provides important steps in botanical drug discovery and development including bioprospecting, quality control, standardization, pharmaceutics, stability, pharmacokinetics, and bioavailability with examples from ethnopharmacology and herbal medicine. One of the important feature of this book is to give an excellent insight to Good Laboratory and Good Clinical Practices along with very useful summary steps involved in filing IND or NDA of botanical products. The book also gives Regulators'perspective of validating claims and how ethnopharmacological or traditional medicines need different approach.