In modern drug discovery and development, chemical synthesis is one of the key technologies. For the rapid preparation of new test compounds and drug development candidates, several innovative technologies with great potential have emerged: Microreactor chemistry; Nanotechnology and catalysis research; Microwave-assisted organic synthesis; New developments in solid supported synthesis.

This book covers lectures about the theory, use, scope and limitations of these new technologies in chemical synthesis. It provides a useful overview for scientists in the pharmaceutical industry as...

This volume features contributions from participants of the ESRF symposium on Immunotherapy in 2020 Visions and Trends for Targeting Inflammatory Diseases held in Potsdam near Berlin, Germany, in October 2006. The symposium presentations covered the main mechanisms of immunoregulation.

Cancer stem cells werehave originally been identified in leukemia and later in several solid tumor types. They have very different properties from the bulk of the tumor, as they divide much more slowly and have very efficient drug- resistance mechanisms. Current treatments might largely spare cancer stem cells, thus leading to tumor recurrence and metastasis. The recent identification of growth and differentiation pathways responsible for cancer stem cell proliferation and survival will help in the discovery identification of novel therapeutic targets. Developing selective drugs against...

Protein phosphorylation is an essential post-translational modification that modulates cell cell communication. Substrate phosphorylation by protein kinases controls intracellular signal transduction pathways that mediate cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and metabolism. The importance of the protein kinase family is underscored by numerous disease states that arise due to dysregulation of kinase activity. Recent progress in understanding the molecular regulation of kinases has led to the development of new therapeutics based on the inhibition of kinase activity. Inhibitors...

Progestins play a key role in reproductive endocrinology and as pharmaceutical drugs for contraception and in combined hormone therapy. To further our understanding of progestin action in the mammary gland, an international symposium, attended by leading researchers from academia and industry, was held in Berlin, 21-23 March 2007. Genetic mouse models helped to elucidate the role of progestins, both in normal breast development and in disease. Mechanistic molecular studies inspired the design of new progestins with improved tissue selectivity. In addition, the clinical impact of...

This book provides an excellent overview on state-of-the-art of modern organocatalysis. It presents the contributions from leading experts, with backgrounds in academia and industry, to an Ernst Schering Research Foundation Symposium held in April 2007. It will be of interest to those who want a general overview of the topic, but also to those who want to learn more about the state-of-the-art, current trends and perspectives in this highly dynamic field of research.

In 1920s, Otto Warburg described the phenomenon of aerobic glycolysis, the ability of tumour cells to convert glucose to lactate in the presence of normal oxygen conditions. Warburg s hypothesis of an altered metabolism in cancer cells found no immediate acceptance, though it was latter confirmed for most human tumours. With the advent of molecular biology the focus in tumour research has shifted towards the search for oncogenes. However, the interest in cancer molecular profiling eventually led to a renaissance of the Warburg effect trying to combine genetic alterations with effects on...

Based on the international workshop GPCRs: From Deorphanisation to Lead Structure Identification, held in Berlin in May 2006, the book highlights the following topics: Structure of GPCRs, Design of GPCR Ligands, GPCR Signalling, Deorphanization and Assay Development. All chapters are written by leading experts in the field, discussing the most recent state of the art. They give insight into the approaches taken by industry and academia to address GPCRs and depict how mature this target class-oriented research has become in the last decade. The book reflects the actual...