A new era in drug discovery and development has begun, precipitated by the sequencing of the human genome, which is the map of life. The raw gene sequence information does not tell us exactly what happens inside the cell to cause disease or how we can cure it. It only serves as a starting point for the journey to find the answers. Genes encode proteins that perform all the fundamental activities within the cell and within the body. Proteins transmit messages, repair damage, provide the building blocks for tissues and carry out the reactions that are essential for life.
Proteins are the molecular machines that carry out genetic instructions.
The role of proteins in health and disease is immeasurable. Most diseases are caused by problems with protein production or with protein function. Many drugs interact directly with proteins to block or enhance a particular action. Once we understand how proteins act and can follow the protein pathways within the cell, a new universe of possibilities for treating disease will open.