Target based screening
Target-based drug discovery requires a hypothesis on the mechanism of action of the disease, which requires the identification a druggable target. This compound-first approach is focused on a drug target, a gene product that provides a starting point for invention of a therapeutic which modulates its expression, function, or activity. It often starts with large biochemical screens against the purified target, overexpressed target in a cell line or other molecular modifications to follow compound interaction.
Target-based drug discovery requires a hypothesis on the mechanism of action of the disease, which requires the identification a druggable target. This compound-first approach is focused on a drug target, a gene product that provides a starting point for invention of a therapeutic which modulates its expression, function, or activity. It often starts with large biochemical screens against the purified target, overexpressed target in a cell line or other molecular modifications to follow compound interaction.
Phenotypic screening
In phenotypic drug discovery, compounds are identified without knowledge of or bias toward a specific molecular target. This agnostic or mechanism-first approach uses biological assays with translational biomarkers as functional readouts. Phenotypic testing requires a relevant biological model of the disease, for example cell lines showing the disease phenotype or patient-derived cells. Compounds are selected for further characterization based on their ability to revert the disease phenotype to the healthy phenotype.
In phenotypic drug discovery, compounds are identified without knowledge of or bias toward a specific molecular target. This agnostic or mechanism-first approach uses biological assays with translational biomarkers as functional readouts. Phenotypic testing requires a relevant biological model of the disease, for example cell lines showing the disease phenotype or patient-derived cells. Compounds are selected for further characterization based on their ability to revert the disease phenotype to the healthy phenotype.
