纪录片《药物依赖》 第4期：药物合成（在线收听）

A known disease molecule, called the target,

一种已知的疾病分子 我们称为靶分子

is introduced to each of the two million compounds, one by one,

逐一加入到这两百万化合物中

to see if anything happens.

去观察是否有反应

With the two million or so compounds,

在这两百万的化合物中

we might get a few

我们可能会发现

compounds that are active against that target.

一些化合物对靶分子有效

We then have to take that one or two hits

然后我们得抓住这一个或两个的机会

and the chemists will make hundreds, maybe thousands, of samples

化学家根据它们的母核结构

related to that original

合成出成千上万的类似物

structure to try and improve the activity

以期提高其活性

and most importantly try

最重要的是

to negate any safety or undesirable effects.

消除一切危险的和预期外的功效

We have to screen those over and over

我们必须一遍一遍地筛选

again to make sure that we're going in the right direction.

确保我们的方向正确

After hundreds of millions of tests,

在数以万计的测试后

just a handful will make it through to trials on people.

只有少量的药品会进行人体测试

In all, it takes about 1 billion and 15 years' work

总的来说 需要10亿的投入和15年的工作

to find the winning compound that can become a licensed drug.

才能找到一种可以获批投产的化合物

The journey to a medicine is an epic journey.

寻找药物的旅程是宏大的

That whole process from idea through to a drug approved

从想法的形成到药品审批通过的整个过程

is one littered with failure.

失败一直如影随形