Skip to main content

Table 1 Advantages and disadvantages of phenotypic and target-based drug discovery approaches

From: Exploring different approaches to improve the success of drug discovery and development projects: a review

Advantages

Disadvantages

Phenotypic drug discovery

 Allows establishment of the therapeutic relevance early in the drug discovery process

Difficulties in modeling some diseases

 Does not require knowledge of the mechanism of action

Policy changes considering animal rights activism

 Enhances the chances of serendipitous discoveries

Does not allow utilization of high technology platforms; low screening capacity

 High chances of discovering first in c class molecules

Complicated analysis due to confounding factors

 The process closely simulates the normal physiological environment

Rational drug design is not applicable with this model

Target-based drug discovery

 Allows elucidation of the mechanism of action

Observed responses may not be physiologically relevant in the natural environment

 Very high chances of developing best in class molecules

Requires knowledge of the underlying mechanism of action a priori

 Allows screening of vast chemical libraries; high screening capacity

Chances of serendipitous drug discovery are minimized

 Allows utilization of high technology platforms

Â