Polypharmacology
Polypharmacology is a branch of pharmacology with a multi-targeted approach. It involves the study of drugs that interact with multiple molecular targets or proteins in the body. This is in contrast to traditional pharmacology, which generally focuses on drugs that interact with a single target. Polypharmacology is a relatively new field, but it is rapidly gaining attention due to its potential to create more effective and safer drugs.
Overview[edit | edit source]
Polypharmacology is based on the understanding that most diseases are caused by a complex interplay of multiple factors, rather than a single cause. Therefore, a drug that can interact with multiple targets may be more effective in treating complex diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular diseases.
Mechanism of Action[edit | edit source]
Drugs used in polypharmacology are designed to interact with multiple targets. This can be achieved by designing drugs that have multiple binding sites, or by combining multiple drugs into a single treatment. The goal is to achieve a synergistic effect, where the combined effect of the drugs is greater than the sum of their individual effects.
Advantages and Disadvantages[edit | edit source]
The main advantage of polypharmacology is its potential to create more effective treatments for complex diseases. By targeting multiple factors at once, it may be possible to achieve better results than with single-target drugs.
However, polypharmacology also has potential disadvantages. The main one is the increased risk of side effects. Because polypharmacological drugs interact with multiple targets, they may also interact with unintended targets, leading to unwanted side effects.
Future Directions[edit | edit source]
The field of polypharmacology is still in its early stages, but it holds great promise for the future of medicine. As our understanding of diseases and drug interactions continues to grow, it is likely that polypharmacology will play an increasingly important role in drug development.
See Also[edit | edit source]
 | This pharmacology-related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
 | This medical article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
