Embryonic stem cells in drug discovery

The completed sequencing of the human genome has identified numerous potential drug targets, which are expected to deliver the next generation of new medicines. However, for drug companies to realize this opportunity, they must rely on improved prognostic applications of high-throughput technologies, from target identification to preclinical compound evaluation. Reducing the timelines and attrition rate of new therapeutics for clinical evaluation requires cell-based methods for testing the efficacy and safety of new compounds. Drug discoverers are beginning to use stem cells as a new resource for increasing confidence in the mechanism of action of new targets and the safety of modulating their activity.