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Poor target selection is the leading reason for clinical trial failure, with approximately 50% of trials falling short due to lack of efficacy. Most efficacy related failures are attributable to poor disease-target linkage. To navigate this, drug discovery teams need to have an extensive understanding of the underlying disease biology, target safety profile, availability of biomarkers, and more.

Balancing these considerations is far from simple. The exponential growth of biomedical data makes target prioritization and selection deeply complex. Modern drug discovery scientists urgently need effective tools that help them manage the data overload, reduce bias and separate signal from noise.

Target Identification and Prioritization introduction image

Build foundational understanding of disease biology to design targeted therapies

  • Explore molecular and cellular processes associated with the disease to establish the critical points where interventions can be targeted.
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  • Analyze pathways and signalling networks to focus on targets that play a pathogenic role in the disease process.
Build foundational understanding of disease biology to design targeted therapies

Identify & prioritize novel and validated targets to focus resources

  • Causaly reads the scientific data within seconds to identify a list of potential targets. Deeply explore the supporting evidence for each target-disease association, including directional effects and contradictory findings.
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  • Easily identify novel targets by focusing on emerging findings, considering targets with little validation, or exploring targets yet to be directly associated with the disease of interest.
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  • With multiple criteria for prioritization, rapidly filter for validated targets in Causaly by assessing the strength of disease-target linkage, genetic evidence, validation in animal models, human relevance, druggability, and more. Tailor your selection process to match your specific needs.
Identify & prioritize novel and validated targets to focus resources

Stay up to date with the latest and most comprehensive data

  • Stay on top of your research area with customizable alerts that notify you the moment new evidence appears.
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  • Have confidence that you are not missing any relevant data with our comprehensive target ontology. Dive deep into specific target classes such as enzymes, receptors, membrane transporters to uncover new possibilities to focus your discovery programs.
Stay up to date with the latest and most comprehensive data

Build foundational understanding of disease biology to design targeted therapies

  • Explore molecular and cellular processes associated with the disease to establish the critical points where interventions can be targeted.
  •  
     
  • Analyze pathways and signalling networks to focus on targets that play a pathogenic role in the disease process.
Build foundational understanding of disease biology to design targeted therapies

Accelerate Your Discovery Programs

Gain up to 90% in research productivity and focus resources on validated targets or explore more novel directions.

Terminate Non-Promising Projects Early

Establish the strength of the underlying disease biology, identify safety red-flags, and look for competitive signals at the inception of discovery projects.

Make More and Bigger Scientific Bets

Increase the number of innovative bets through open-ended, exploratory questions that allow you to consider adjacencies and increase chances of novel discoveries – without running a single experiment.

What our clients say

"What I find really helpful is the ability to visualize the research in different ways - it is great to get a quick overview of how much knowledge is available."
Principal Scientist
Top 50 Pharma
"An advantage of Causaly is where I am investigating the mechanism of action for a gene of interest - I can use the platform to understand the cellular and molecular function of the gene in the disease and it will point me towards best publications to review."
Senior Scientist
Top 50 Pharma
"I love how Causaly's functionality allows me to generate hypotheses and gain inspiration whilst doing research, e.g. while exploring which tissues or cells are affected."
Principal Scientist
Top 50 Pharma
"What I find really helpful is the ability to visualize the research in different ways - it is great to get a quick overview of how much knowledge is available."
Principal Scientist
Top 50 Pharma
"An advantage of Causaly is where I am investigating the mechanism of action for a gene of interest - I can use the platform to understand the cellular and molecular function of the gene in the disease and it will point me towards best publications to review."
Senior Scientist
Top 50 Pharma
"I love how Causaly's functionality allows me to generate hypotheses and gain inspiration whilst doing research, e.g. while exploring which tissues or cells are affected."
Principal Scientist
Top 50 Pharma
"What I find really helpful is the ability to visualize the research in different ways - it is great to get a quick overview of how much knowledge is available."
Principal Scientist
Top 50 Pharma

Target Selection Resources

The Promise of Immuno-oncology in Bladder Cancer Featured Image
Elizabeth Bolitho • October 2, 2023

The Promise of Immuno-oncology in Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer treatments are hampered by high recurrence, requiring multiple therapeutic interventions which are highly invasive and cause side effects, underscoring the need for innovative treatments. In the pursuit of advancing bladder cancer treatment, immuno-oncology shows promise. This blog delves into the importance of identifying antigens in the development of targeted cancer therapies.  

Targeting Autophagy for Obesity Treatment Featured Image
Elizabeth Bolitho • September 28, 2023

Targeting Autophagy for Obesity Treatment

Obesity is closely connected to autophagy, a vital cellular process impacting metabolic health. Targets which affect autophagy may therefore be a promising therapeutic approach.

Identifying Targets for Alzheimer’s Disease: MAPK14 Featured Image
Elizabeth Bolitho • September 20, 2023

Identifying Targets for Alzheimer’s Disease: MAPK14

Despite progress, there is no cure for AD, necessitating on-going research into biological targets to develop effective treatments. Using Causaly, MAPK14 was identified as a potential target associated with AD progression which has been studied in mice.    

Signaling Proteins as Targets for Atopic Eczema Featured Image
Elizabeth Bolitho • September 14, 2023

Signaling Proteins as Targets for Atopic Eczema

Atopic eczema, the most common type of eczema, significantly impacts quality of life. Its complexity, influenced by genetic, environmental, and immunological factors, underscores the importance of target discovery for innovative treatments. Identifying novel targets may pave the way for more effective treatments that address the underlying causes of disease.

Targeting Neuroinflammation in Parkinson’s Disease Featured Image
Elizabeth Bolitho • September 7, 2023

Targeting Neuroinflammation in Parkinson’s Disease

Neuroinflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Understanding biological targets associated with neuroinflammation in this disease may pave the way for effective treatments.

Targeting GOF Mutations in Leukemia: FLT3 and NOTCH1 Featured Image
Elizabeth Bolitho • September 4, 2023

Targeting GOF Mutations in Leukemia: FLT3 and NOTCH1

Understanding GOF mutations is crucial for developing targeted therapies which inhibit the activity of aberrant proteins. Here, we explored FLT3 and NOTCH1 as GOF mutations associated with leukemia disease progression.

Target Identification for RDS in Adults: RAGE Featured Image
Elizabeth Bolitho • August 29, 2023

Target Identification for RDS in Adults: RAGE

Poor validation of drug targets has been linked to costly clinical failures and low drug approval rates. Identifying promising therapeutic targets is therefore crucial in the management of complex diseases, such as Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). In this use case, RAGE was identified as a potential target for RDS in adults.

SERCA Enzymes as Targets for Polycystic Kidney Disease Featured Image
Elizabeth Bolitho • August 18, 2023

SERCA Enzymes as Targets for Polycystic Kidney Disease

SERCA enzymes have emerged as potential therapeutic targets for Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), a prevalent hereditary kidney disease estimated to affect over 12 million people worldwide.