Drug Discovery Benefits from Venomous Clues

Pharmaceutical drug discovery is reliant on innovative research and development approaches that uncover novel agents that could service a drug pipeline. Development of novel drugs to combat human disease is largely dependent on the availability of safe and effective drugs, many of which are under development and evaluation—the so-called "drug pipeline". While the costs involved in novel drug discovery, research, development and clinical evaluation are quite significant, one approach that can prove both cost-effective and a viable source of bio-therapeutic agents involves bio-prospecting for therapeutically active compounds commonly found in natural resources including microorganisms, plants, invertebrates or reptiles. In a recent issue of Proteomic Insights, Hang Fai Kwok et al provide a historical and current perspective of proteomic and genomic approaches on lizard venoms that have allowed us to understand and appreciate not only this valuable resource of discovering biologically active molecules, but also to alert us to the need of conservation of such invaluable and beneficial natural resources.