The aquaporin field has matured at an exceptionally fast pace and we are at the verge to develop serious strategies to therapeutically modulate aquaporin function directly or via regulatory networks. Key prerequisites are available today: i. a considerable (and growing) number of aquaporin crystal structures for the rational design of inhibitory molecules, ii. elaborate molecular dynamics simulation techniques for theoretical analyses of selectivity mechanisms and docking experiments, iii. comprehensive data on aquaporin immunohistochemistry, iv. aquaporin knockout animals for physiological studies, and v. assay systems for compound library screenings. The structure of this volume on aquaporins follows the points laid out above and thus covers the developments from basic research to potential pharmacological use. Situated between pharmacology textbooks and recent scientific papers this book provides a timely overview for readers from the fundamental as well as the applied disciplines.

The field of pharmacogenomics arose to develop personalized medicine, or medicine that deals with the complexity of the human body. In this book, leading experts present methodical, state-of-the-art contributions covering topics from individual molecules to systemic diseases, examining both fundamental concepts and advanced technologies. The volume begins by exploring cutting-edge technologies used to pursue systems-based pharmacogenomics, followed by extensive chapters on gene-drug interactions and the use of pharmacogenomics in therapeutics of diseases. This book is ideal for scientists striving to transform disease treatment into disease prevention.

In his thesis, Kiyoun Lee describes his studies into tandem and organocatalytic oxa-conjugate addition reactions for the synthesis of complex tetrahydropyrans (THP). Readers gain insight into the new methods Lee employs for the synthesis of biologically interesting natural products including (+)-leucascandrolide A, (+)-dactylolide, and (+/-)diospongin A. The reactions Lee investigates are applicable to a broad range of substrates and proceed with excellent stereoselectivity. Moreover, the methodologies allow the synthesis of a wide range of THP-containing compounds. The development of reactions, such as those discussed by Lee, has the potential to impact natural product synthesis, pharmaceutical development and chemical biology.

This book covers the recent innovations relating to various bioactive natural products (such as alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, anthraquinones, steroids, polysaccharides, tannins and polyphenolic compounds, volatile oils, fixed oils, fats and waxes, proteins and peptides, vitamins, marine products, camptothecin, piperines, carvacrol, gedunin, GABA, ginsenosides) and their applications in the pharmaceutical fields related to academic, research and industry.

Achieving operational excellence is a challenge for the pharmaceutical industry, with many companies setting successful examples time and again. This book presents such leading practices for managing operational excellence throughout the pharmaceutical industry. Based on the St.Gallen OPEX Model the authors describe the current status of OPEX and the future challenges that have to be dealt with. The ample theoretical background is complemented hand-in-hand by case studies contributed by authors from leading pharmaceutical companies.

Over the last several years it has become apparent to most researchers that interdisciplinary research is the key to success in the sciences' future. The present book exemplifies such interdisciplinary work. Thus, some new derivatives have been prepared by chemists and consecutively analyzed by physicists in order to better understand their physical-chemical properties for future tests to be performed by pharmacists. The book consists of an introductory section and other eight chapters. First, the fundamentals of infrared, Raman and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and those of the theoretical methods employed for the vibrational prediction modes are highlighted. The SERS investigations illustrated in the following chapters are focused on different kinds of drugs: tranquilizers and sedatives, anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamins, drugs with anti-bacterial properties, etc. Since there is an increased interest in designing highly effective and controllable SERS-active substrates, a few newly developed substrates that could contribute to a deeper understanding and knowledge of the adsorption behavior of various types of molecules of pharmaceutical and medical interest are also presented.

The book summarizes important aspects of cheminformatics that are relevant for natural product research. It highlights cheminformatics tools that help to match natural products with their respective biological targets or off-targets, and discusses the potential and limitations of this approach.

This book gathers 12 outstanding contributions that reflect state-of-the-art industrial applications of fluorescence, ranging from the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries to explosives detection, aeronautics, instrumentation development, lighting, photovoltaics, water treatment and much more. In the field of fluorescence, the translation of research into important applications has expanded significantly over the past few decades. The 18th volume in the Springer Series on Fluorescence fills an important gap by focusing on selected industrial applications of fluorescence, described in contributions by both industry-based researchers and academics engaged in collaborations with industrial partners.

"About 25 years ago, Mosmann & Coffman introduced the TH1 / TH2 paradigm of T helper cell differentiation which helped explain many aspects of adaptive immunity from eliminating intracellular versus extracellular pathogens to induction of different types of tissue inflammation. However, TH1 / TH2 paradigm could not adequately explain development of certain inflammatory responses which provided impetus for the discovery of a new subset of T cells called TH17 cells. After the discovery of differentiation and transcription factors for TH17 cells, it was clear that TH17 cells represent an independent subset of T cells with specific functions in eliminating certain extracellular pathogens, presumably not adequately handled by TH1 or TH2 cells. The major role of TH17 cells has been described in inducing auto-immune tissue inflammation. The discovery of TH17 cells has expanded the TH1 / TH2 paradigm, and the integration of TH17 cells with TH1 and TH2 effector T cells is beginning to explain the underlying mechanisms of tissue inflammation in a number of infections and auto-immune disease settings." - From Chapter One by Vijay K. Kuchroo, Harvard University, USA "The recently identified Interleukin 17 (IL-17) cytokine family contributes to immunity to infectious diseases and chronic inflammatory diseases. Further studies on the regulation and function of this important cytokine family may provide better understanding on the roles of the IL-17 family in immune-mediated diseases; such knowledge may lead to the development of immunotherapeutic strategies for treatment of several inflammatory diseases." - From Chapter Two by Chen Dong, University of Texas and MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA

This book highlights current approaches and future trends in the use of mass spectrometry to characterize protein therapies. As one of the most frequently utilized analytical techniques in pharmaceutical research and development, mass spectrometry has been widely used in the characterization of protein therapeutics due to its analytical sensitivity, selectivity, and specificity. This book begins with an overview of mass spectrometry techniques as related to the analysis of protein therapeutics, structural identification strategies, quantitative approaches, followed by studies involving characterization of process related protein drug impurities/degradants, metabolites, higher order structures of protein therapeutics. Both general practitioners in pharmaceutical research and specialists in analytical sciences will benefit from this book that details step-by-step approaches and new strategies to solve challenging problems related to protein therapeutics research and development.

This volume of Modern Aspects of Electrochemistry reviews the latest developments in electrochemical science and technology related to biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. In particular, this book discusses electrochemical applications to medical devices, implants, antimicrobially active materials, and drug delivery systems.

This authoritative volume explores the fundamental concepts and numerous applications of targeted delivery of drugs to the body. This compilation has been divided into eight sections comprised of the basic principles of drug targeting, disease and organ/organelle-based targeting, passive and active targeting strategies, and various advanced drug delivery tools such as functionalized lipidic, polymeric and inorganic nanocarriers. Together, the twenty-three chapters cover a wide range of topics in the field, including tumor and hepatic targeting, polymer-drug conjugates, nanoemulsion, physical and biophysical characteristics of nanoparticles, and in vivo imaging techniques, among others. The book also examines advanced characterization techniques, regulatory hurdles and toxicity-related issues that are key features for successful commercialization of targeted drug delivery system products. Targeted Drug Delivery is a comprehensive reference guide for drug delivery researchers, both beginners and those already working in the field.

Get Up to Speed on Many Types of Adaptive Designs Since the publication of the first edition, there have been remarkable advances in the methodology and application of adaptive trials. Incorporating many of these new developments, Adaptive Design Theory and Implementation Using SAS and R, Second Edition offers a detailed framework to understand the use of various adaptive design methods in clinical trials. New to the Second Edition Twelve new chapters covering blinded and semi-blinded sample size reestimation design, pick-the-winners design, biomarker-informed adaptive design, Bayesian designs, adaptive multiregional trial design, SAS and R for group sequential design, and much more More analytical methods for K-stage adaptive designs, multiple-endpoint adaptive design, survival modeling, and adaptive treatment switching New material on sequential parallel designs with rerandomization and the skeleton approach in adaptive dose-escalation trials Twenty new SAS macros and R functions Enhanced end-of-chapter problems that give readers hands-on practice addressing issues encountered in designing real-life adaptive trials Covering even more adaptive designs, this book provides biostatisticians, clinical scientists, and regulatory reviewers with up-to-date details on this innovative area in pharmaceutical research and development. Practitioners will be able to improve the efficiency of their trial design, thereby reducing the time and cost of drug development.

The first contribution presents coumarins, the largest group of 1-benzopyran derivatives found in plants. Coumarin chemistry remains one of the major interest areas of phytochemists, especially because of their structural diversity and medicinal properties, along with the wide-ranging bioactivities of these compounds, inclusive of analgesic, anticoagulant anti-HIV, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antineoplastic, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects. The second contribution presents a comprehensive survey of the many aspects of PAD biochemistry and physiology. The third contribution gives a comprehensive overview of secondary metabolites from higher fungi, with more than 700 references highlighting the isolation, structure elucidation, biological activities, chemical synthesis, and biosynthesis of pigments, nitrogen-containing compounds, and terpenoids from mushrooms.

Fluorine chemistry is an expanding area of research that is attracting international interest, due to the impact of fluorine in drug discovery and in clinical and molecular imaging (e.g. PET, MRI). Many researchers and academics are entering this area of research, while scientists in industrial and clinical environments are also indirectly exposed to fluorine chemistry through the use of fluorinated compounds for imaging.This book provides an overview of the impact that fluorine has made in the life sciences. In the first section, the emphasis is on how fluorine substitution of amino acids, peptides, nucleobases and carbohydrates can provide invaluable information at a molecular level. The following chapters provide answers to the key questions posed on the importance of fluorine in drug discovery and clinical applications. For examples, the reader will discover how fluorine has found its place as a key element improving drug efficacy, with reference to some of the best-selling drugs on the market. Finally, a thorough review on the design, synthesis and use of 18F-radiotracers for positron emission tomography is provided, and this is complemented with a discussion on how 19F NMR has advanced molecular and clinical imaging.

Accelerated Path to Cures provides a transformative perspective on the power of combining advanced computational technologies, modeling, bioinformatics and machine learning approaches with nonclinical and clinical experimentation to accelerate drug development. This book discusses the application of advanced modeling technologies, from target identification and validation to nonclinical studies in animals to Phase 1-3 human clinical trials and post-approval monitoring, as alternative models of drug development. As a case of successful integration of computational modeling and drug development, we discuss the development of oral small molecule therapeutics for inflammatory bowel disease, from the application of docking studies to screening new chemical entities to the development of next-generation in silico human clinical trials from large-scale clinical data. Additionally, this book illustrates how modeling techniques, machine learning, and informatics can be utilized effectively at each stage of drug development to advance the progress towards predictive, preventive, personalized, precision medicine, and thus provide a successful framework for Path to Cures.

In this book, clinicians and basic scientists from USA, India, and other countries discuss the rationales and clinical experiences with targeted approaches to treat, prevent, or manage cancer. Cancer is a hyperproliferative disorder that is regulated by multiple genes and multiple cell signaling pathways. Genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics have revealed that dysregulation of dozens of genes and their products occur in any given cell type that ultimately leads to cancer. These discoveries are providing unprecedented opportunities to tackle cancer by multi-faceted approaches that target these underpinnings. This book emphasizes a multi-targeted approach to treating cancer, the focus of the 5th International Conference on Translational Cancer Research that was held in Vigyan Bhawan, Delhi (India) from Feb 6-9, 2014.

This consolidated reference book addresses the various aspects of nano biomaterials used in ophthalmic drug delivery, including their characterization, interactions with ophthalmic system and applications in treatments of the ophthalmic diseases and disorders. In the last decade, a significant growth in polymer sciences, nanotechnology and biotechnology has resulted in the development of new nano- and bioengineered nano-bio-materials. These are extensively explored as drug delivery carriers as well as for implantable devices and scaffolds. At the interface between nanomaterials and biological systems, the organic and synthetic worlds merge into a new science concerned with the safe use of nanotechnology and nano material design for biological applications. For this field to evolve, there is a need to understand the dynamic forces and molecular components that shape these interactions. While it is impossible to describe with certainty all the bio physicochemical interactions at play at the interface, we are at a point where the pockets of assembled knowledge are providing a conceptual framework to guide this exploration, and review the impact on future product development. The book is intended as a valuable resource for academics and pharmaceutical scientists working in the field of polymers, polymers materials for drug delivery, drug delivery systems and ophthalmic drug delivery systems, in addition to medical and health care professionals in these areas.

Nature endows us with a treasure chest of Green Gold full of amazing 'redox-active' substances which interfere with numerous biological processes in our own body, in animals, bacteria, fungi and plants. Whilst such natural products are all around and also in us, we still do not fully understand how these compounds actually work. This book attempts to resolve some of the mysteries and riddles associated with such products. Written by more than thirty international experts from academia and industry, it places a focus on modern developments in this field and considers such natural products from various angles, from their isolation and characterization all along to product development and commercialization. Throughout, the reader will be confronted with modern approaches which enable the efficient identification and isolation of new natural products, help to elucidate their mode(s) of action and permit practical uses in Medicine, Cosmetics, Agriculture, Industry and as functional foods.

This book illustrates the current state-of-the-art in histamine research, with a focus on the appropriate methodologies to investigate the pharmacological properties and the therapeutic exploitation of HRs and their ligands. In addition, the range of techniques described provides an introduction to complementary cross-methodological disciplines beyond these fields. This multi-disciplinary approach is required to define the 'decision gates' that determine the development of more effective and safer therapeutic options for many forms of highly prevalent and debilitating diseases, such as asthma, dementias, dermatitis, and arthritis. Written for the Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology series, chapters concentrate on practical, hands-on protocols from experts in the techniques. Authoritative and thorough, Histamine Receptors as Drug Targets seeks to aid pharmacologists, biochemists, drug discovery researchers, molecular biologists, chemists, toxicologists, lab scientists, medical doctors, principle investigators, research scientists, lab directors and technicians, as well as graduate students around the world in pursuing the study of this vital scientific area.

The book focuses on the aqueous interface of biomolecules, a vital yet overlooked area of biophysical research. Most biological phenomena cannot be fully understood at the molecular level without considering interfacial behavior. The author presents conceptual advances in molecular biophysics that herald the advent of a new discipline, epistructural biology, centered on the interactions of water and bio molecular structures across the interface. The author introduces powerful theoretical and computational resources in order to address fundamental topics such as protein folding, the physico-chemical basis of enzyme catalysis and protein associations. On the basis of this information, a multi-disciplinary approach is used to engineer therapeutic drugs and to allow substantive advances in targeted molecular medicine. This book will be of interest to scientists, students and practitioners in the fields of chemistry, biophysics and biomedical engineering.

Tackling translational medicine with a focus on the drug discovery development-interface, this book integrates approaches and tactics from multiple disciplines, rather than just the pharmaceutical aspect of the field. The authors of each chapter address the paradox between the molecular understanding of diseases, drug discovery, and drug development. Laying out the detailed trends from various fields, different chapters are dedicated to target engagement, toxicological safety assessments, and the compelling relationship of optimizing early clinical studies with design strategies. The book also highlights the importance of balancing the three pillars: sufficient efficacy, acceptable safety and appropriate pharmacokinetics, all of which are crucial to successful efforts in discovery and development. With discussions regarding the combined approaches of molecular research, personalized medicine, pre-clinical and clinical development, as well as targeted therapies-this compendium is a flexible fit, perfect for professionals in the pharmaceutical industry and related academic fields.

The highly experienced authors here present readers with step-wise, detail-conscious information to develop quality pharmaceuticals. The book is made up of carefully crafted sections introducing key concepts and advances in the areas of dissolution, BA/BE, BCS, IVIC, and product quality. It provides a specific focus on the integration of regulatory considerations and includes case histories highlighting the biopharmaceutics strategies adopted in development of successful drugs.

This comprehensive reference provides an in-depth discussion on state-of-the-art regulatory science in bioequivalence. In sixteen chapters, the volume explores a broad range of topics pertaining to bioequivalence, including its origin and principles, statistical considerations, food effect studies, conditions for waivers of bioequivalence studies, Biopharmaceutics Classification Systems, Biopharmaceutics Drug Disposition Classification System, bioequivalence modeling/simulation and best practices in bioanalysis. It also discusses bioequivalence studies with pharmacodynamic and clinical endpoints as well as bioequivalence approaches for highly variable drugs, narrow therapeutic index drugs, liposomes, locally acting gastrointestinal drug products, topical products and nasal and inhalation products.

""

"FDA Bioequivalence Standards" is written by FDA regulatory scientists who develop regulatory policies and conduct regulatory assessment of bioequivalence. As such, both practical case studies and fundamental science are highlighted in these chapters. The book is a valuable resource for scientists who work in the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory agencies and academia as well as undergraduate and graduate students looking to expand their knowledge about bioequivalence standards.

Managing the Drug Discovery Process: How to Make It More Efficient and Cost-Effective thoroughly examines the current state of pharmaceutical research and development by providing chemistry-based perspectives on biomedical research, drug hunting and innovation. The book also considers the interplay of stakeholders, consumers, and the drug firm with attendant factors, including those that are technical, legal, economic, demographic, political, social, ecological, and infrastructural. Since drug research can be a high-risk, high-payoff industry, it is important to researchers to effectively and strategically manage the drug discovery process. This book takes a closer look at increasing pre-approval costs for new drugs and examines not only why these increases occur, but also how they can be overcome to ensure a robust pharmacoeconomic future. Written in an engaging manner and including memorable insights, this book is aimed at redirecting the drug discovery process to make it more efficient and cost-effective in order to achieve the goal of saving countless more lives through science. A valuable and compelling resource, this is a must-read for all students and researchers in academia and the pharmaceutical industry.