Non-coding RNAs and new opportunities for the private sector

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been recently implicated in several molecular mechanisms in eukaryotes. They are a group of transcripts with no protein-coding potential that may have multiple functions and in many cases they have been associated with diseases. Some companies have already started to la...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Drug discovery today 2009-05, Vol.14 (9), p.446-452
Main Author: Costa, Fabrício F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Biomarkers
Databases, Nucleic Acid
Disease - genetics
Drug Discovery - methods
Drug Industry
General pharmacology
Humans
Medical sciences
Pharmaceutical technology. Pharmaceutical industry
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
RNA, Ribosomal, Self-Splicing - therapeutic use
RNA, Untranslated - drug effects
RNA, Untranslated - physiology
RNA, Untranslated - therapeutic use
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Summary:Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been recently implicated in several molecular mechanisms in eukaryotes. They are a group of transcripts with no protein-coding potential that may have multiple functions and in many cases they have been associated with diseases. Some companies have already started to launch platforms such as arrays and products on the basis of new DNA sequencing technologies aimed at identifying and studying different types of ncRNAs but this represents just a small step toward the understanding of this new area of research. The private sector should start paying more attention to ncRNAs in order to improve the pipeline for drug discovery, drug development and facilitate the identification of new diagnostic and prognostic markers. With the advent of new DNA sequencing and array-based technologies we will be able to uncover aspects of the genome and the transcriptome previously unimagined. One of these aspects is the identification and characterization of non-coding RNAs. These new players are becoming a common feature of eukaryotic transcriptomes. They are associated with various diseases opening new possibilities in drug design and biomarker identification by the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry.
ISSN:1359-6446
1878-5832
DOI:10.1016/j.drudis.2009.01.008