Introduction

In continuation of the text book “Drug Discovery and Evaluation, Pharmacological Assays” (Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York) first edition by H. Gerhard Vogel and Wolfgang H. Vogel 1997, second edition 2002 by H. Gerhard Vogel, Coeditors: Wolfgang H. Vogel, Bernward A. Schölkens, Jürgen Sandow, Günter Müller, Wolfgang F. Vogel with contributions of authors mainly from Hoechst-Marion-Roussel it was decided to edit a new book entitled “Safety Assays in Drug Discovery and Development”. This book covers all areas of modern toxicology (gene toxicity, toxicogenomics, toxicoproteomics) as well as the classical end-points like acute, sub-acute, chronic, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicology, dermal toxicology, sensitization studies as well as pharmaco- and toxico-kinetic and metabolic methodologies suitable and/or necessary for the discovery and development of drugs under “state of the art” conditions in modern drug development.

Intent of the editors was to include chapters on...