2.2.1 Target Identification

Target identification is the process of discovering the biological macromolecule — a protein, enzyme, receptor, ion channel, or nucleic acid — whose...

Target identification is the process of discovering the biological macromolecule — a protein, enzyme, receptor, ion channel, or nucleic acid — whose modulation is expected to produce the desired therapeutic effect. It represents the first step in rational, hypothesis-driven drug discovery, as distinct from purely phenotypic or serendipitous discovery. Contemporary target identification integrates genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, and phenotypic screening to both discover candidate targets and validate their disease relevance before medicinal chemistry effort is committed to them.