DRUG DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT

Yener Tekeli*, Elif Esra Altuner, Tuba Tekeli

Drug design and development represent a multidisciplinary process that integrates chemistry, biology, pharmacology, and computational sciences to create new therapeutic agents. The process begins with the identification of a biological target associated with a specific disease, followed by the design of small molecules or biologics capable of modulating this target’s function. Advances in computer-aided drug design (CADD), molecular docking, and structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis have significantly accelerated the discovery phase by enabling the rational design of potent and selective compounds. Subsequent stages include preclinical testing to evaluate pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties, and clinical trials to confirm safety and efficacy in humans. Despite the complexity and high cost, modern drug development has been revolutionized by genomics, artificial intelligence, and high-throughput screening technologies, offering new possibilities for personalized and precision medicine.