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Back to the Future of Neuropsychopharmacology

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Drug Development in Psychiatry

Part of the book series: Advances in Neurobiology ((NEUROBIOL,volume 30))

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Abstract

Disappointments in translating preclinical findings into clinical efficacy have triggered a number of changes in neuroscience drug discovery ranging from investments diverted to other therapeutic areas to reduced reliance on efficacy claims derived from preclinical models. In this chapter, we argue that there are several existing examples that teach us on what needs to be done to improve the success rate. We advocate the reverse engineering approach that shifts the focus from preclinical efforts to “model” human disease states to pharmacodynamic activity as a common denominator in the journey to translate clinically validated phenomena to preclinical level and then back to humans. Combined with the research rigor, openness, and transparency, this reverse engineering approach is well set to bring new effective and safe medications to patients in need.

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Conflicts of Interest

AB has financial interests in and serves as managing director and CSO/CMO of Exciva GmbH, a pharmaceutical company focused on treating behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, and managing director of PAASP GmbH (Heidelberg, Germany), a company focused on developing and providing assessment and accreditation of scientific practice. MvG owns stock of AbbVie, uniQure, and Charles River Laboratories. TS is an employee of J&J and holds stock from J&J.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Exciva GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany

    Anton Bespalov

  2. Evotec, Göttingen, Germany

    Marcel van Gaalen

  3. Janssen Pharmaceutica, Beerse, Belgium

    Thomas Steckler

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  1. Anton Bespalov
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  2. Marcel van Gaalen
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  3. Thomas Steckler
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anton Bespalov .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Matthew Macaluso

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Kansas University School of Medicine-Wichita campus, Wichita, KS, USA

    Sheldon H. Preskorn

  3. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Richard C. Shelton

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Bespalov, A., van Gaalen, M., Steckler, T. (2023). Back to the Future of Neuropsychopharmacology. In: Macaluso, M., Preskorn, S.H., Shelton, R.C. (eds) Drug Development in Psychiatry. Advances in Neurobiology, vol 30. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21054-9_9

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