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Current Drug Targets

Journal Impact Factor: 2.5
Scopus Cite Score: 7.2

Indexed in: Scopus, SCI Expanded, MEDLINE/PubMed

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Aims and Scope:
Current Drug Targets aims to cover the latest and most outstanding developments on the medicinal chemistry and pharmacology of molecular drug targets e.g. disease specific proteins, receptors, enzymes, genes.

Current Drug Targets publishes guest edited thematic issues written by leaders in the field covering a range of current topics of drug targets. The journal also accepts for publication full-length/mini review articles and drug clinical trial studies.

As the discovery, identification, characterization and validation of novel human drug targets for drug discovery continues to grow; this journal is essential reading for all pharmaceutical scientists involved in drug discovery and development.
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Editor-in-Chief:

  • Hao LinSchool of Life Science and Technology
    Center for Informational Biology
    University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC)
    Chengdu
    China

ISSN: 1389-4501 (Print)

eISSN: 1873-5592 (Online)

Special Issues With Active Call for Papers

Submission closes on: Aug 23, 2026
Recent Updates on the Molecular Targets of Chalcones

Chalcones are chemically alpha, beta-unsaturated ketones derived from the flavonoid family. The ease of synthesis and interactions with various molecular targets prompted greater attention in the field of medicinal chemistry. Recently, various aromatic or heteroaromatic derived chalcones showed good targets on neurological, cancer, diabetic, and inflammation, etc. The current thematic proposal illustrates the recent updates on the molecular targets of Chalcones. see more

Impact Factor: 2.5
Guest Editor(s): Dr. Bijo Mathew
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Submission closes on: Aug 04, 2026
Multitarget Agents For Complex Diseases

The basic principle of action of a drug is based on model lock and key, where is desirable the highest possible affinity for a target avoiding no side effects. For many years it was desirable‘one drug for one target for one disease’, however the researchers observed that complex diseases are best addressed when treated with drugs multi-targets. However, in the recent years the researches try find polypharmacology- drugs that act on multiple rather than single... see more

Impact Factor: 2.5
Guest Editor(s): Dr. Luciana Scotti
Co-Guest Editor(s): Dr. Marcus Scotti
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Submission closes on: Jul 05, 2026
To Screen the Application of Small Molecule Targeted Drugs in the Field of Orthopedics by Artificial Intelligence

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into drug discovery and precision medicine has revolutionized therapeutic development, particularly in orthopedics, where small-molecule targeted drugs hold promise for treating bone-related disorders such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and bone metastases. This thematic issue explores how AI-driven approaches, including machine learning, deep learning, and computational modeling, can accelerate the identification, optimization, and repurposing of small-molecule drugs for orthopedic applications. Topics of interest include AI-based drug screening, molecular docking simulations, predictive... see more

Impact Factor: 2.5
Guest Editor(s): Xuexiao Ma
Co-Guest Editor(s): Hongzong Si
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Submission closes on: Mar 30, 2026
Progress in Drug Delivery, Therapeutic Strategies, and Nursing Practices: Enhancing Diagnostics and Clinical Outcomes in Complex Diseases

The recent advancements in drug delivery systems as well as therapeutics have significantly improved therapy effectiveness combined with better patient results specifically for difficult disease management. The modern pharmaceutical research field makes drug targeting its main priority because this approach strengthens therapeutic agents' precision while improving their effectiveness. Multiple delivery techniques such as ligand-based targeting and nanoparticle carriers with receptor-mediated approaches enable controlled delivery of drugs to specific target cells and tissues while minimizing general... see more

Impact Factor: 2.5
Guest Editor(s): Dr. Muhammad Sohail
Co-Guest Editor(s): Dr. Mohamed Abdelmobdy Abdelrahim
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Submission closes on: Feb 27, 2026
Emerging Drug Targets and Revolutionary Therapeutic Approaches for Effective Anti-Cancer Intervention

Recent advancements in cancer research have significantly advanced our understanding of the intricate molecular mechanisms driving cancer progression, leading to the identification of new drug targets and therapeutic strategies. The elucidation of complex signaling pathways and genetic aberrations associated with tumorigenesis has provided valuable insights into potential targets for intervention. Additionally, a paradigm shift towards revolutionary approaches such as targeted therapies, immune checkpoint inhibitors (e.g., PD-1-based immunotherapy), and adoptive cell therapies like CAR-T cell therapy... see more

Impact Factor: 2.5
Guest Editor(s): Dr. Denggang Fu
Co-Guest Editor(s): Dr. Jinghui Sun
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Submission closes on: Dec 31, 2025
New Drug Therapy for Eye Diseases

Eyesight is one of the most critical senses, accounting for over 80% of our perceptions. Our quality of life might be significantly affected by eye disease, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye, etc. Although the development of microinvasive ocular surgery reduces surgical complications and improves overall outcomes, medication therapy is still an important strategy for many eye diseases, especially for the early stage of glaucoma, dry eye, and thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy. In recent decades, gene editing... see more

Impact Factor: 2.5
Guest Editor(s): Dr. Yalong Dang
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Submission closes on: Dec 31, 2025
Therapeutic Chemical and RNA Design with Artificial Intelligence

Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD) has emerged as a fundamental component of modern drug discovery. Molecular docking facilitates virtual screening on a large scale through structural simulations. However, traditional CADD approaches face significant limitations, as they can only screen known compounds from existing libraries. PubChem, as the most widely used chemical database, provides data on approximately 119 million compounds from 1,005 data sources (as of August 2024). Nevertheless, it is estimated that the pool of drug-like... see more

Impact Factor: 2.5
Guest Editor(s): Dr. Huang, Tao
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Submission closes on: Dec 25, 2025
From Models to Molecules: Integrative Strategies in Herbal Product-based Drug Discovery

The toxic effects of synthetic drugs underscore the complex equilibrium between their therapeutic efficacy and the potential hazards they pose to biological systems. Natural products, with their diverse bioactive compounds and natural synergism, can help counteract synthetic drug toxicities by offering a complementary multi-targeted approach to mitigate organ damage and improve overall health. Natural products have long served as a cornerstone of drug discovery, offering unparalleled chemical diversity and bioactivity that continues to inspire modern... see more

Impact Factor: 2.5
Guest Editor(s): Dr. Vibha Rani
Co-Guest Editor(s): Dr. Simona Maria Monti,Dr. Neha Atale
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