A drug target is a specific molecule in the body, often a protein, that a drug interacts with to produce a therapeutic effect.
Identifying and validating drug targets is a crucial step in drug discovery, as it determines the potential efficacy and safety of a new treatment. This process involves extensive research to understand the target’s role in disease mechanisms and its interaction with potential drugs. Advances in genomics and proteomics have significantly enhanced our ability to identify novel drug targets.
Additionally, computational methods and machine learning are increasingly being used to predict and validate drug targets, making the drug discovery process more efficient.