TEST BANK
Goodman and Gilman's The
Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics
14th Edition
Author(s)Laurence Brunton; Bjorn Knollmann
Print ISBN: 9781264258079
,Question 1
A researcher studying a plant traditionally used to alter human
physiology isolates a compound that produces a reproducible biological
effect. Which feature best describes the historical contribution of such
natural products to drug discovery?
A. They were originally selected because their molecular targets were
already known.
,B. They provided pharmacologically active leads through empirical
observation.
C. They were developed only after synthetic compounds failed.
D. They were selected primarily through randomized controlled trials.
Correct Answer:
B. They provided pharmacologically active leads through empirical
observation.
Rationale:
B is correct because early drug discovery often relied on observing
biological effects of medicinal plants or natural substances before the
molecular mechanism was understood.
A is incorrect because target identification was generally not known
during early natural-product discovery.
C is incorrect because natural products were important sources of drugs
long before modern synthetic screening.
D is incorrect because randomized clinical trials developed much later
than the empirical use of medicinal substances.
Question 2
A natural product demonstrates useful biological activity but also
causes toxicity at therapeutically relevant concentrations. Which drug-
discovery strategy is most appropriate for determining whether the
compound can be improved?
A. Immediately advance the compound to phase III trials
B. Perform structural optimization while examining structure–activity
relationships
, C. Eliminate all compounds from the same chemical class
D. Replace pharmacological testing with postmarketing surveillance
Correct Answer:
B. Perform structural optimization while examining structure–activity
relationships
Rationale:
B is correct because medicinal chemistry can modify a biologically
active lead and evaluate how structural changes affect activity,
selectivity, and other properties.
A is incorrect because a toxic lead requires optimization and further
preclinical characterization before advanced clinical testing.
C is incorrect because activity and toxicity of one compound do not
establish that every related structure is unsuitable.
D is incorrect because postmarketing surveillance occurs after
marketing and cannot substitute for preclinical and clinical
development.
Question 3
Researchers identify a protein that is expressed at much higher levels in
tumor cells than in normal cells. They propose developing a drug that
inhibits the protein. Which additional finding would provide the
strongest evidence that the protein is a valid therapeutic target?
A. The protein is easily detected by laboratory assays.
B. The protein has a highly conserved amino acid sequence.
C. Pharmacological manipulation of the protein produces a beneficial
disease-related effect.
Goodman and Gilman's The
Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics
14th Edition
Author(s)Laurence Brunton; Bjorn Knollmann
Print ISBN: 9781264258079
,Question 1
A researcher studying a plant traditionally used to alter human
physiology isolates a compound that produces a reproducible biological
effect. Which feature best describes the historical contribution of such
natural products to drug discovery?
A. They were originally selected because their molecular targets were
already known.
,B. They provided pharmacologically active leads through empirical
observation.
C. They were developed only after synthetic compounds failed.
D. They were selected primarily through randomized controlled trials.
Correct Answer:
B. They provided pharmacologically active leads through empirical
observation.
Rationale:
B is correct because early drug discovery often relied on observing
biological effects of medicinal plants or natural substances before the
molecular mechanism was understood.
A is incorrect because target identification was generally not known
during early natural-product discovery.
C is incorrect because natural products were important sources of drugs
long before modern synthetic screening.
D is incorrect because randomized clinical trials developed much later
than the empirical use of medicinal substances.
Question 2
A natural product demonstrates useful biological activity but also
causes toxicity at therapeutically relevant concentrations. Which drug-
discovery strategy is most appropriate for determining whether the
compound can be improved?
A. Immediately advance the compound to phase III trials
B. Perform structural optimization while examining structure–activity
relationships
, C. Eliminate all compounds from the same chemical class
D. Replace pharmacological testing with postmarketing surveillance
Correct Answer:
B. Perform structural optimization while examining structure–activity
relationships
Rationale:
B is correct because medicinal chemistry can modify a biologically
active lead and evaluate how structural changes affect activity,
selectivity, and other properties.
A is incorrect because a toxic lead requires optimization and further
preclinical characterization before advanced clinical testing.
C is incorrect because activity and toxicity of one compound do not
establish that every related structure is unsuitable.
D is incorrect because postmarketing surveillance occurs after
marketing and cannot substitute for preclinical and clinical
development.
Question 3
Researchers identify a protein that is expressed at much higher levels in
tumor cells than in normal cells. They propose developing a drug that
inhibits the protein. Which additional finding would provide the
strongest evidence that the protein is a valid therapeutic target?
A. The protein is easily detected by laboratory assays.
B. The protein has a highly conserved amino acid sequence.
C. Pharmacological manipulation of the protein produces a beneficial
disease-related effect.
