Consider the development of Metformin (for type 2 diabetes):
Once in humans, pharmacology runs the show. pharmacology in drug discovery and development
Pharmacology enabled the transformation of a short-lived gut hormone (GLP-1, half-life ~2 min) into a once-weekly drug. Through medicinal chemistry modifications (fatty acid acylation for albumin binding), pharmacologists extended half-life to ~7 days. PK/PD modeling then determined the right dosing regimen for glycemic control and, unexpectedly, profound weight loss—uncovering the drug’s action on CNS appetite centers. Consider the development of Metformin (for type 2
The field is evolving. We are moving away from "one size fits all" medicine toward Precision Medicine. The field is evolving
By studying Pharmacogenomics—how a person's genetic makeup affects their response to drugs—pharmacologists can now predict who will benefit from a drug and who might suffer toxic side effects.
Pharmacology bridges the gap between animals and humans.
When a drug enters clinical trials, pharmacology becomes a tool for optimization.
