Perspectives on molecular and anatomical imaging in drug discovery

The role of medical imaging in the preclinical, pharmaceutical environment has entered a growth phase in the drug discovery setting due to at least three main factors: (i) improved technology, specific to the imaging of small animals; (ii) the high-visibility impact of imaging on the practice of human medicine; and (iii) operational advantages leading to a competitive advantage over other drug discovery organizations (1,2). However, it is important to note that as much as one could make the case to employ imaging, it must also be emphasized that an organizational investment—both monetary and operationally—must be made for the proper implementation and integration of imaging into a company’s drug development work flow (1,2). Still the question remains: What is the role of imaging, both molecular and anatomical, in improving the current drug discovery process? This article examines this question in light of the experiences of the authors in establishing an Imaging Sciences Group at Millennium Pharmaceuticals (Cambridge, MA, USA), as well as personal communications with colleagues in the field. First, we will briefly review why imaging could impact pharmaceutical drug development—a process wrought with potential failures—and then highlight specific examples of the approaches that we have taken.