Molecular imaging with SPECT as a tool for drug development

2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (7) ◽  
pp. 547-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Célia M. Gomes ◽  
Antero J. Abrunhosa ◽  
Pedro Ramos ◽  
Ernest K.J. Pauwels
Author(s):  
Philip S. Murphy ◽  
Neel Patel ◽  
Timothy J. McCarthy

Pharmaceutical research and development requires a systematic interrogation of a candidate molecule through clinical studies. To ensure resources are spent on only the most promising molecules, early clinical studies must understand fundamental attributes of the drug candidate, including exposure at the target site, target binding and pharmacological response in disease. Molecular imaging has the potential to quantitatively characterize these properties in small, efficient clinical studies. Specific benefits of molecular imaging in this setting (compared to blood and tissue sampling) include non-invasiveness and the ability to survey the whole body temporally. These methods have been adopted primarily for neuroscience drug development, catalysed by the inability to access the brain compartment by other means. If we believe molecular imaging is a technology platform able to underpin clinical drug development, why is it not adopted further to enable earlier decisions? This article considers current drug development needs, progress towards integration of molecular imaging into studies, current impediments and proposed models to broaden use and increase impact. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Challenges for chemistry in molecular imaging’.


2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 936-948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lídia Cunha ◽  
Krisztián Szigeti ◽  
Domokos Mathé ◽  
Luís F. Metello

2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 144-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. T. Chan ◽  
R. Paulmurugan ◽  
R. E. Reeves ◽  
D. Solow-Cordero ◽  
S. S. Gambhir

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