Cited by 1,131Computational Drug Discovery MethodsProtein Degradation and InhibitorsCholinesterase and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Polypharmacology: Challenges and Opportunities in Drug Discovery: Miniperspective

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Anighoro, Andrew, Bajorath, Jürgen, Rastelli, Giulio·2014·Journal of Medicinal Chemistry

Abstract

At present, the legendary magic bullet, i.e., a drug with high potency and selectivity toward a specific biological target, shares the spotlight with an emerging and alternative polypharmacology approach. Polypharmacology suggests that more effective drugs can be developed by specifically modulating multiple targets. It is generally thought that complex diseases such as cancer and central nervous system diseases may require complex therapeutic approaches. In this respect, a drug that "hits" multiple sensitive nodes belonging to a network of interacting targets offers the potential for higher efficacy and may limit drawbacks generally arising from the use of a single-target drug or a combination of multiple drugs. In this review, we will compare advantages and disadvantages of multitarget versus combination therapies, discuss potential drug promiscuity arising from off-target effects, comment on drug repurposing, and introduce approaches to the computational design of multitarget drugs.

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Crossref · 10.1021/jm5006463

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  • In a multifactorial pathologic condition, inhibition of one pathway is normally compensated by higher activation of other pathways, which may lead to a resistance phenotype and higher dose usage, increasing the risk of side effects from off-target modulation.

    “In a multifactorial pathologic condition, the inhibition of one pathway is normally compensated by higher activation of other pathways.This may lead to a resistance phenotype and result in a higher dose usage, which, in turn, may increase the risk of side effects, as a consequence of off-target modulation.7”

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Authors
Anighoro, A., Bajorath, J., & Rastelli, G.
Affiliations
  • University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (IT)
  • University of Bonn (DE)
Corresponding author
Rastelli, Giulio
Venue
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
Published
2014-06-25
Volume
57
Issue
19
Pages
7874-7887
ISSN
  • 0022-2623 (ISSN-L)
  • 1520-4804
OpenAlex
W2402506318
Cited by
1,131
References
88
Citations by year
2026: 115 · 2025: 112 · 2024: 113 · 2023: 101 · 2022: 109 · 2021: 110 · 2020: 93 · 2019: 94 · 2018: 72 · 2017: 74 · 2016: 70 · 2015: 55 · 2014: 10
FWCI
5.98
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • IRIS UNIMORE (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computational Theory and Mathematics › Computational Drug Discovery Methods
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protein Degradation and Inhibitors
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Cholinesterase and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Keywords
polypharmacology, multi-target drugs, drug promiscuity, off-target effects, drug repurposing, computer-aided drug design, complex diseases, cancer, central nervous system disorders, drug discovery
MeSH terms
Brain Diseases, Drug Therapy, Combination, Humans, Neoplasms, Structure-Activity Relationship, Drug Design, Drug Repositioning, Polypharmacology

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