Drug Discovery, Development, Delivery and Utilization 
Pharmaceutical Research at PCOM

The overarching goals of pharmaceutical research are to design and test drugs to increase efficacy and reduce side effects; monitor drug utilization; and improve access to therapeutics. The first step in drug discovery is the identification of potential molecular targets that can be stimulated or repressed for therapeutic purposes. Our researchers collaborate with a bioinformatics specialist to integrate and interpret complex molecular interactions and a data analyst to evaluate the impact of healthcare policies on medication utilization and cost-effectiveness.

Drug development is the process of bringing new medications from the early stages of research to their availability for patient use. It involves a series of coordinated steps and scientific efforts aimed at identifying and developing safe and effective drugs to treat various diseases. The steps include:

Drug Discovery - Identify and design prospective drug compounds that have the potential to interact with specific disease-related targets or pathways. Researchers may use computational modeling, high-throughput screening and natural product isolation to identify promising compounds that exhibit therapeutic properties.

Drug Development - Once potential drug candidates are identified, they undergo extensive testing in preclinical studies. These studies test the efficacy of compounds and assess the safety, distribution and pharmacokinetics (how the drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized and eliminated by the body) using molecular assays, cell culture and animal models.

Clinical Trials - This research is conducted to examine drug effects in humans. Researchers test drug safety, dosage and effectiveness in human volunteers in phases that increase the number of participants and monitoring parameters.

Regulatory Approval - Following successful clinical trials, drug developers submit an application to regulatory authorities for approval to market the drug. Regulatory agencies review the data from preclinical and clinical studies to ensure that the drug's safety and efficacy meet established safety standards.

Drug Delivery - Drug delivery refers to the mechanisms and methods used to administer drugs to patients. Drug delivery systems can include oral tablets, injectables, transdermal patches, inhalers and other specialized devices. 

PCOM researchers design and develop drugs to treat cancer, COVID-19, ischemia-reperfusion injury of the heart and kidneys as well as degenerative diseases of the brain, eyes, joints and periodontal tissues. Numerous studies are underway to determine the effects of medicinal cannabis on pain, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, opioid use disorder, autism spectrum disorder and quality of life, and usage in Pennsylvania.