| ADME | back to top |
Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
|
| Analog | back to top |
A compound that is analogous to another. Usually analogs share a common structural scaffold but bear different chemical substituents.
|
| Antigen | back to top |
A foreign molecule (antigen) triggering the production of an antibody (also called immunoglobulin) by the immune system of an organism.
|
| API | back to top |
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
|
| Apoptosis | back to top |
A program of biological functions leading to cell death, also called programmed cell death.
|
| Arraying | back to top |
A numbered series of test objects such as activity assays, DNA probes, antibodies, chemical reactions, etc., that are of the same size and/or type.
|
| Arrays | back to top |
A numbered series of test objects such as activity assays, DNA probes, antibodies, chemical reactions, etc., that are of the same size and/or type.
|
| Assay plate | back to top |
A plate with typically 96, 384, or 1536 similar microliter volume wells arranged in a two-dimensional array for parallel or multiple tests or reactions.
|
| Attrition | back to top |
Reduction of lead or drug candidate molecules due to failures in preclinical or clinical trials.
|
| AUC | back to top |
Area under curve is a measure for drug exposure. AUC is the product of the drug concentration in the bloodstream or a specific tissue and a defined time period.
|
| Binding pocket | back to top |
A depression, tunnel or cleft where ligands bind on a protein/receptor surface.
|
| BUN | back to top |
Blood urea nitrogen. A measure of the urea level in the blood. Urea is cleared by the kidney. BUN is a laboratory blood test to assess how well the kidney is functioning. Diseases or toxicity of compounds can compromise kidney function which frequently leads to increased levels of BUN.
|
| CADD | back to top |
Computer-assisted drug design. Use of computational tools and algorithms for the visualization, design and optimization of leads and drug molecules.
|
| Catalysis | back to top |
The chemical or biological process whereby the presence and/or participation of an external catalyst molecule (i.e., enzyme), causes a chemical reaction to occur or to improve reaction performance without ultimately altering the catalyst molecule.
|
| Catalytic | back to top |
The chemical or biological process whereby the presence and/or participation of an external catalyst molecule (i.e., enzyme), causes a chemical reaction to occur or to improve reaction performance without ultimately altering the catalyst molecule.
|
| CDER | back to top |
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Branch of FDA responsible for policy decisions concerning drugs.
|
| Cell line | back to top |
Cells which grow and replicate continuously outside the living organism and are maintained in vitro for medical and/or research purposes.
|
| Cell migration | back to top |
The biological process of cell movement triggered by a specific stimulus.
|
| Chemical library | back to top |
A collection of distinct, defined and characterized molecules or mixtures thereof.
|
| Chromatography | back to top |
The separation of a mixture of substances by charge, size, or other property by allowing the mixture to partition between a moving phase and a stationary phase.
|
| Class | back to top |
A gene or protein family/class refers to genes or proteins that have in common one or any number of characteristics such as sequence homology, biological function or mechanism of action, etc.
|
| CMC | back to top |
Chemistry, manufacturing and control. Term used in the context of production and quality control of drugs or drug candidates.
|
| CNS | back to top |
Central nervous system.
|
| COGS | back to top |
Cost of goods. The cost of producing a certain amount of a drug molecule.
|
| Compound | back to top |
A defined and discreet molecule. A compound can either be a small molecule, a protein or antibody, or an oligonucleotide.
|
| Compound library | back to top |
A collection of distinct, defined and characterized molecules or mixtures thereof.
|
| Compound series | back to top |
A number of analogs which bear common features and were synthesized to address a specific drug discovery or development question.
|
| Conformation | back to top |
The three-dimensional or spatial orientation of bonds and atoms in a molecule. A certain molecule usually exists in a number of possible conformations.
|
| Controlled trial | back to top |
Design of a clinical trial that includes a balanced and randomized group of test subjects in terms of age and gender (where applicable), a control group following the same test protocol without actually receiving drug (placebo), and an independent review of the trial data. Trials may be open, blind or double-blind.
|
| Cytotoxicity | back to top |
Toxic to cells.
|
| Disease marker | back to top |
A direct or indirect (surrogate) readout measuring the degree, reversal or progression of a specific disease.
|
| DNA | back to top |
Deoxyribonucleic acid. The chemical building block of the genetic information in the cell, specifying the characteristics of most living organisms. DNA is usually in the form of two complementary strands.
|
| Drug target | back to top |
Biological molecule or molecules that are inhibited, activated or modulated by a drug molecule. Drug targets can be any form or combinations of (glyco)proteins, DNA or RNA.
|
| Dynamic range | back to top |
The specifications under which an assay measurably responds to the interference by a test compound.
|
| EC50 | back to top |
The EC50 represents the plasma concentration/AUC required for obtaining 50 percent of the maximum effect in vivo.
|
| ED50 | back to top |
The dose of a drug that is pharmacologically effective for 50 percent of the population exposed to the drug or a 50 percent response in a biological system that is exposed to the drug.
|
| Effectiveness | back to top |
Power or capacity to produce a desired, or in the context of disease, beneficiary effect.
|
| Efficacy | back to top |
Power or capacity to produce a desired, or in the context of disease, beneficiary effect.
|
| Enzyme | back to top |
A protein catalyzing a chemical reaction. Biological processes are to a high degree driven by enzymatic reactions.
|
| Exposure | back to top |
Exposure measures the interaction/contact of an organism and a compound over a specified time period. The area under the curve (AUC) is an important parameter for exposure. It is a measure of how much of a drug reaches the bloodstream in a set period of time. AUC is calculated by plotting drug blood concentration at various times during a 24-hour or longer period and then measuring the AUC between 0 and 24 hours.
|
| False negative | back to top |
False positive: a test result that wrongly shows an effect to be present. False negative: a test result within specifications that wrongly shows no effect to be present.
|
| False positive | back to top |
False positive: a test result that wrongly shows an effect to be present. False negative: a test result within specifications that wrongly shows no effect to be present.
|
| Family | back to top |
A gene or protein family/class refers to genes or proteins that have in common one or any number of characteristics such as sequence homology, biological function or mechanism of action, etc.
|
| FDA | back to top |
Food and Drug Administration. US regulatory agency (http://www.fda.gov) responsible for the evaluation and approval of drugs and medical devices.
|
| Formulation | back to top |
The list of chemicals/substances that are not the therapeutically active ingredient, and their relative amounts, to be used in the preparation of a drug.
|
| Function | back to top |
Biological/physiological role of a gene, gene product (protein, enzyme). Functional assays assess the this role.
|
| Functional | back to top |
Biological/physiological role of a gene, gene product (protein, enzyme). Functional assays assess the this role.
|
| Gain-of-function | back to top |
Restoration of the function of a gene or gene product. Usually through complementation with a gene or protein, sometimes through the action of a compound.
|
| Gene expression | back to top |
Degree to which a certain gene is activated and transcribed into gene products. Measured by the amount of RNA or protein.
|
| Gene product | back to top |
Protein or enzyme encoded in a gene. Some genes can code for more than one gene product due to gene-splicing post-translational modifications.
|
| Gene silencing | back to top |
Suppression of a gene and its function.
|
| Genomics | back to top |
The study of the sequence, structure, and function of the genome.
|
| Genotoxicity | back to top |
A measure of the potency of adverse effects of a toxin on DNA.
|
| GLP | back to top |
Good laboratory practices.
|
| GMP | back to top |
Good manufacturing practices.
|
| GPCR | back to top |
G-protein coupled receptor.
|
| GRAS | back to top |
Generally recognized as safe.
|
| hERG-channel | back to top |
Human ERG-channel. hERG is an acronym for "human ether-a-go-go related gene" and names a pore-forming subunit of a family of potassium ion channels in heart cells.
|
| Heteroatom | back to top |
Atoms differently than carbon (C) Examples are nitrogen (N), oxygen (O) or sulphur (S).
|
| Heterooligomer | back to top |
A macromolecular complex composed of two or more subunits which are different from each other.
|
| Hit | back to top |
A compound that shows activity in a primary screen.
|
| Homolog | back to top |
This is a gene, gene product or compound that shares a common ancestry or morphology with a different gene, gene product or compound.
|
| Homology | back to top |
This is a gene, gene product or compound that shares a common ancestry or morphology with a different gene, gene product or compound.
|
| IC50 | back to top |
The IC50 represents the concentration of a drug that is required for 50 percent inhibition in an assay.
|
| Imaging | back to top |
Procedures that produce pictures of areas inside a cell, a tissue or the body of an organism.
|
| In silico | back to top |
Computationally as opposed to in vitro or in vivo.
|
| IND | back to top |
Investigational new drug.
|
| Inhibition | back to top |
A chemical compound that has the effect of blocking or slowing a biological process, for example an enzymatic reaction.
|
| Inhibitor | back to top |
A chemical compound that has the effect of blocking or slowing a biological process, for example an enzymatic reaction.
|
| Kinase | back to top |
Enzyme family catalizing phosphorylation, i.e., addition of a phosphate group to its substrate.
|
| Knock-in | back to top |
A type of targeted mutation in which an alteration in gene function other than a loss-of-function is produced.
|
| Knockout | back to top |
A type of targeted mutation in which loss-of-function is produced.
|
| LD50 | back to top |
LD50: (Lethal Dose 50) is the dose of a chemical which kills 50 percent of a sample population. In full reporting, the dose, treatment and observation period should be given. LD50s are strictly only comparable when the age, sex, and nutritional state of the animals is specified.
|
| Lead | back to top |
A compound with a confirmed activity profile that warrants development.
|
| Lead series | back to top |
A number of analogous compounds synthesized around a confirmed active—the lead.
|
| Ligand | back to top |
A compound, mostly a small molecule, that binds to a receptor/protein.
|
| Liquid handling | back to top |
Transfer and mixing of solutions containing reagents for an assay or reaction, usually in the nanoliter to milliliter range.
|
| Lysate | back to top |
Solution which results from cell disintegration (lysis) due to membrane rupture or the breakdown of the cell wall.
|
| Lyse/Lysis | back to top |
Cell disintegration due to membrane rupture or the breakdown of the cell wall.
|
| Lysis | back to top |
Solution which results from cell disintegration (lysis) due to membrane rupture or the breakdown of the cell wall.
|
| Metabolism | back to top |
The biochemical processes that sustain a living cell or organism. Usually divided into two types: catabolism, the breakdown of complex substances into simple ones, with the release energy; and anabolism, the building up of complex substances from simpler ones, with the absorption or storage of energy. Molecules that are part of these processes are metabolites.
|
| Metabolite | back to top |
The biochemical processes that sustain a living cell or organism. Usually divided into two types: catabolism, the breakdown of complex substances into simple ones, with the release energy; and anabolism, the building up of complex substances from simpler ones, with the absorption or storage of energy. Molecules that are part of these processes are metabolites.
|
| Mitosis | back to top |
The process of cell division. Post-mitotic cells have stopped to divide.
|
| MoA | back to top |
Mechanism of action.
|
| Molecular target | back to top |
Molecule with a function in disease that is targeted with a compound to achieve a therapeutic effect.
|
| Morphology | back to top |
The form and structure of an organism.
|
| MTD | back to top |
Maximum tolerated dose.
|
| MTT-like | back to top |
The MTT assay is a spectroscopic laboratory test for measuring cell growth based on 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium salts (MTT).
|
| Mutation | back to top |
A change in a gene that can occur randomly (naturally) or that can be deliberately caused in the laboratory by scientists.
|
| NCE | back to top |
New chemical entity.
|
| NDA | back to top |
New drug application.
|
| Oligonucleotide | back to top |
A short sequence (usually 2-50 bases) of DNA or RNA.
|
| Pathways | back to top |
A system of proteins that work together. For example, a pathway could include protein A which sends a signal to protein B, which sends a signal to protein C, and so on until a biological effect occurs. Biological pathways are often complex, have many branching points and regulatory feedback loops.
|
| PD-Pharmacodynamics | back to top |
The study of drug action on living organisms.
|
| Pharmacology | back to top |
The study of drugs and their origin, nature, properties and effects upon living organisms.
|
| Pharmacophore | back to top |
The three-dimensional arrangement of atoms, or groups of atoms, responsible for the biological activity of a drug molecule.
|
| Phenotype | back to top |
A phenotype is the visible properties of an organism that are produced by the interaction of the genes and the environment.
|
| Phosphorylation | back to top |
The addition of a phosphate group to proteins or DNA/RNA.
|
| PK-Pharmacokinetics | back to top |
The study of the action of an organism on a drug. Usually encompasses absorption, metabolism, distribution and excretion (ADME).
|
| Post-mitotic | back to top |
The process of cell division. Post-mitotic cells have stopped to divide.
|
| Pro-drug | back to top |
Originates from the term "progenitor drug." A compound that is converted within the body into the active form that has therapeutic effects.
|
| Protein | back to top |
A large biomolecule composed of one or more chains of amino acids in a specific order. Proteins are required for the structure, function, and regulation of cells, tissues, and organs.
|
| Protein-protein interactions | back to top |
Describes the mostly complex nature of specific and selective binding of proteins.
|
| QSAR | back to top |
(Quantitative) structure-activity relationship. A model describing how a pharmacophore effects its target.
|
| Radioisotope | back to top |
A radioactive form of an element. In research radioisotopes are widely used to label specific molecules, which can be detected by the radiation they emit.
|
| Receptor | back to top |
A specific protein-binding site on a cell's surface or interior. When compounds bind to receptors, various cellular functions are activated or inhibited.
|
| Recombinant | back to top |
Produced by genetic engineering or altered in the genes. In a recombinant organism one or more genes which can be endogenous or exogenous have been mutated, added, or deleted.
|
| Resistance | back to top |
The degree of unresponsiveness of a disease-causing microorganism or cell to drugs (for example, penicillin-resistant bacteria).
|
| Ribosome | back to top |
A subcellular particle composed of RNA and protein, which is part of the protein-synthesizing machinery of the cell.
|
| RNA | back to top |
Ribonucleic acid, molecules involved in transcribing genetic information for the synthesis of proteins stored in DNA and then translating this information into the sequence of amino acids in the protein.
|
| SAR | back to top |
(Quantitative) structure-activity relationship. A model describing how a pharmacophore effects its target.
|
| SBDD | back to top |
Structure-based drug design.
|
| Scale-up | back to top |
Describes the process of achieving production in a larger scale, i.e., from the gram to kilogram scale or from microliter to liter scale.
|
| Screen | back to top |
In drug discovery testing large numbers of compounds in order to identify those with particular characteristics.
|
| Screening | back to top |
In drug discovery testing large numbers of compounds in order to identify those with particular characteristics.
|
| Sequencing | back to top |
Determination of the order of nucleotides in a DNA or RNA molecule, or the order of amino acids in a protein.
|
| Serial dilution | back to top |
Systematic dilution of a reagent by a fixed dilution factor resulting in a series of concentrations.
|
| Side effect | back to top |
An undesirable effect of a drug.
|
| Signal transduction | back to top |
The way by which a cell relays information from receptor binding to cellular response.
|
| Small molecule drugs | back to top |
Therapeutic molecules with a molecular weight below 1 kDa. A typical small molecule drug has a molecular weight between 250 and 400 Da.
|
| Solvation | back to top |
The process by which solvent molecules surround and interact with solute ions or molecules.
|
| Spectroscopy | back to top |
The study of the interaction between electromagnetic radiation (light) and matter.
|
| Substrate | back to top |
The molecule upon which an enzyme acts.
|
| Susceptibility | back to top |
The degree to which an organism is sensitive to a therapeutic or a disease.
|
| Target class | back to top |
Systematic or empirical name of a target family, i.e., kinases.
|
| Throughput | back to top |
Measure for the number of assays or data points per time unit, i.e., 1,000 assays per day.
|
| Transgenic | back to top |
A genetically altered organism that stably incorporates genes from another organism and can pass them on to succeeding generations.
|
| Upregulation | back to top |
An increase of expression, transcription, and/or translation of a cellular protein or gene.
|
Home
