Track 17: Therapeutics and Drug Development

Therapeutics and Drug Development

Therapeutics and drug development are two essential concepts in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries that focus on discovering, creating, and delivering treatments for various diseases and medical conditions. While these terms are related, they refer to different aspects of the overall process of addressing patient needs through medicinal interventions.

Therapeutics

Therapeutics refers to the branch of medicine and pharmacology that deals with the treatment of diseases and conditions using various therapeutic methods, including medications, surgical procedures, and other interventions. In the context of pharmaceuticals, therapeutics specifically involves the use of drugs or biologics to treat, manage, or prevent medical conditions. It is a broader term that encompasses the various approaches and strategies for managing disease, including:

1. Drug-Based Therapies
   The use of medications to treat diseases or alleviate symptoms. This includes both traditional small-molecule drugs (e.g., painkillers, antibiotics) and advanced biologic therapies (e.g., monoclonal antibodies, gene therapies).

Non-Pharmacological Therapies

Besides medications, therapeutic interventions can include physical therapy, psychological therapy, dietary modifications, and other forms of non-drug treatment