Target discovery and validation
A drug target is a molecular structure that, when modulated with a drug, leads to the desired therapeutic effect in a disease state. Once a potential drug target is identified, it has to be validated. Validation is a long and stepwise process that employs both in vitro and in vivo models mimicking a desired target in diseased patients. Target validation aims to ensure proof-of-concept (PoC) and feasibility of the target in the desired therapeutic area, but ultimately, full target validation can only be provided post hoc, once a therapeutic agent with the desired clinical efficacy has been developed.
