Welcome

Central nervous system (CNS) disorders are major causes of mortality and disability. Because they are afflicting an increasing number of people, the World Health Organisation have indicated that they will become the major medical need of the 21st century. Whilst CNS drugs generate in excess of $50 billion in sales and constitute the fastest growing therapeutic segment of the pharmaceutical market, treatments for most CNS disorders are either absent or sub-optimal, and compared to other therapeutic areas it takes long to get a CNS drug to market and the probability of success is markedly lower.

Understanding these issues is the focus of this conference.

We begin with an overview of some of the challenges facing CNS drug discovery (Paul Whiting) and move on to review some of the issues related to identifying drug discovery targets (Chas Bountra) and assessing the ability of compounds to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB; Joan Abbott). A major logjam in the CNS drug discovery process is the assessment of therapeutic efficacy. This is greatly enhanced by the emergence of in vitro models to assess neuroprotective efficacy (Lars Sundstrom), but most efficacy testing still relies on in vivo models (Thomas Rosahl). Successful progression of a candidate through the value chain moves a compound into clinical trials, where there is a pressing need for reliable biomarkers to guide decision making (Vincenzo Libri). An increasingly common and potentially very useful biomarker, particularly for neurodegenerative disorders, is magnetic resonance imaging (Steve Williams).

The meeting not only illustrates the strength of CNS drug discovery research in the UK, but it also shows that it is possible to deliver high quality meetings without high capital outlay. This is achievable through the efficient not-for-profit operating practises of the SMR. For this meeting, we also have to thank the following companies for their generous support:

1. Eli Lilly
2. MSD
3. GSK
4. Organon
5. Pharmidex
6. Capsant

We hope that you find the meeting of value.
Dr Alan M. Palmer and Prof F. Anne Stephenson

Meeting organisers