Apoptosome pharmacological manipulation: From current developments in the laboratory to clinical implications

Apoptosis is a topic of pressing scientific interest which includes the study of mechanisms involved in programmed cell death. The key role of apoptosome in various pathological processes suggests that the pharmacology of apoptosome will become equally important to pharmaceutical companies. Indeed, as described in previous chapters, emerging knowledge about the proteins which constitute the apoptotic machinery together with the definition of molecular structure of apoptosome complex have revealed new potential therapeutic strategies. In the following chapters, besides providing a synopsis of the Translational Research and Drug Discovery Process, we will survey antiapoptotic drug therapy, in different clinical phases, aimed at interrupting or attenuating various pathogenic pathways of disease and/or at ameliorating symptoms.