Abstract

Development and marketing of new drugs require stringent validation that are expensive and time consuming. Non-invasive multimodality molecular imaging using reporter genes holds great potential to expedite these processes at reduced cost. New generations of smarter molecular imaging strategies such as Split reporter, Bioluminescence resonance energy transfer, Multimodality fusion reporter technologies will further assist to streamline and shorten the drug discovery and developmental process. This review illustrates the importance and potential of molecular imaging using multimodality reporter genes in drug development at preclinical phases.

Keywords: Drug discovery, reporter genes, molecular imaging, Cell based Assays, Real Time Molecular Imaging, stringent, Split reporter, Bioluminescence resonance energy transfer, quantitative and qualitative assessment, therapy efficacy, direct imaging, indirect imaging, drug development, chemical libraries