Translational Pharmacology and Biomarkers: Unlocking GPCR Drug Discovery

Biomarkers, measurable indicators of biological states and conditions, have become pivotal in advancing research and development for novel therapeutics and diagnostics. This chapter describes the different types of biomarkers for either disease or for response to treatment, and how biomarkers fit into the drug development process. They help identify target populations, reduce clinical trial sizes, and accelerate the approval processes of novel drugs. Further, biomarker enable more precise monitoring of treatment effects and patients’ responses. Moreover, they facilitate tailored treatment based on individual biomarker profiles, which is known as precision medicine. This chapter provides multiple examples of biomarkers use cases for GPCRs. The chapter ends with a discussion on the need for validation and standardization as well as how artificial intelligence and machine learning impact biomarker discovery.