This readily comprehensible book explains the identification of molecular targets via cellular assays, reporter genes or transgenic models, as well as surveying recent advances in the synthesis, separation and analysis of drugs. A special section is devoted to molecular genetics methods.With its examination of these novel methods and generous practical advice, this is essential reading for all pharmaceutical chemists, molecular biologists and medical researchers using molecular methods to study drugs and their action.

<b>Theodor Dingermann</b>, born 1948, studied pharmacy at the University of Erlangen, Germany. After obtaining his PhD in biochemistry, he worked as a post-doc at Yale University, New Haven. In 1987 he completed his habilitation for the disciplines of biochemistry and molecular biology. Since 1990 he is full professor of pharmaceutical chemistry at the Goethe University in Frankfurt (Germany). He is editor-in-chief of two journals, &#8220;DIE PHARMAZIE&#8221; and &#8220;Pharmazie in unserer Zeit&#8221;. Furthermore, he is chairman of the working group on biopharmaceuticals and vice-chairman of the committee on pharmaceutical biology of the German Arzeibuch commission. From 2000 to 2004 he has been president of the German Pharmaceutical Society. <p> <b>Dieter Steinhilber</b>, born 1959, studied pharmacy at the University of T&#252;bingen (Germany). After an assistantship there he spent a postdoc period with Nobel prize winner Bengt Samuelson in Stockholm (Sweden). In 1994 he received an associate professorship and since 2000 he is a full professor for pharmaceutical chemistry at the Goethe University in Frankfurt (Germany). Since 1999 he is also director of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. From 1999 to 2000 he was dean of the Faculty for Biochemistry, Pharmacy and Food Chemistry. Prof. Steinhilber is the chairman of a European graduate school funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and is the chairman of the scientific board of Phenion, a company for molecular cell physiology. <p> <b>Gerd Folkerss</b> is professor of pharmaceutical chemistry at the ETH-Z&#252;rich since 1991. He studied pharmacy at the University of Bonn and earned his Ph.D. on structure activity relationships of desapunines. He then moved to the University of T&#252;bingen, where he completed his habilitation in pharmaceutical chemistry. During a stay with H.-D. Hoeltje in Bern, he studied new research methods at the Birkbeck College and E. Meyer at Texas A&amp;M University.<br> The focus of his research is the molecular interaction between drugs and their binding sites. Besides his work on the molecular mechanism of &#8220;conventional&#8221; nucleoside therapeutics against virus infection and cancer, his special interest has shifted to immuno-therapeutics.