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Current Medicinal Chemistry

ISSN: 0929-8673 (Print)
eISSN: 1875-533X (Online)

Current Medicinal Chemistry covers all the latest and outstanding developments in the field of medicinal chemistry. It also includes topics related to quantitative structure-function relationships, drug absorption, drug distribution, drug metabolism, new and emerging drug targets, pharmacogenomics, drug discovery toxicology, high-throughput screening, combinatorial chemistry, structural characterization and organic syntheses of naturally occurring compounds, as well as chemical and analytical techniques used in rational drug design. Each issue incorporates a series of timely in-depth/mini-reviews and guest-edited thematic issues written by leaders in the field covering a range of the current topics in medicinal chemistry. The journal also publishes reviews on recent patents.
Current Medicinal Chemistry is an essential journal for every medicinal chemist who wishes to be informed and up-to-date with the latest and most important developments relevant to their field.

Special Issues With Active Call for Papers

Submission closes on: Oct 30, 2025
Network pharmacology, and/or Mendelian randomization in the discovery of disease mechanisms in drug treatment.

Based on large-scale data and computer technology, network pharmacology explores the interaction network between drug molecules and molecules in vivo, such as targets, pathways, genes, and proteins, as well as the effects of these interactions on drug efficacy, toxicity, metabolism, etc. It provides more accurate and efficient solutions in drug research and development, drug treatment, drug reuse, etc. In the context of precision medicine, the development of targeted drugs is a hot topic. However, finding... see more

Submission closes on: Aug 31, 2025
Repurposing Central Nervous System (CNS) Drugs as Chemotherapeutic Agents.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous reports indicated that the infection found apparent resistance within the hospitalized psychiatric population. Thus, the hypothesis was formulated that some psychiatric drugs might be endowed with antiviral activity. This thematic issue welcomes collections of both original and review papers highlighting the drug repurposing landscape regarding CNS agents as a strategy to identify new chemotherapeutics. see more

Submission closes on: Jul 30, 2025
New Strategies for Targeting Regulated Cell Death Signals in Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury-Related Diseases: New Findings and Mechanism Research

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/R) occurs during reperfusion after ischemia, which not only fails to restore tissue and organ function, but rather exacerbates tissue damage, and occurs in a wide range of organs and tissues, including the brain, heart, kidneys, liver, and retina. I/R injury involves a variety of pathological processes, such as regulated cell death (apoptosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and PANoptosis), oxidative stress, inflammatory response, excitotoxicity, and calcium overload. Significantly, prevention and treatment of I/R injury... see more

Submission closes on: Jun 30, 2025
Immunotherapy, Gene Therapy and Big Data Analysis in Burns, Trauma and Cosmetic Surgery.

In the domains of burn, trauma, and plastic surgery, immunotherapy, gene therapy, and big data analysis are demonstrating tremendous potential and application prospects. Patients with burns and traumas frequently encounter severe tissue damage and immune system disorders. Immunotherapy aims to facilitate tissue repair and restoration by modulating the immune system. Gene therapy offers a novel approach to rectifying genetic deficiencies and promoting cell regeneration. Additionally, big data analysis plays a crucial role in these fields.... see more

Submission closes on: Jun 30, 2025
Plant-Derived Products with Central Nervous System Activity

The special issue focuses on reports presenting results from studies showing the psychotropic potential of plants and, more specifically, substances that are derived from plants or inspired by flora (derivatives or analogs of substances found in nature). Substances with anti-neuroinflammatory, anti-neurodegenerative, anti-dementia, procognitive, anti-depressive, and anxiolytic activity are in the scope of interest. The results of the tested substances from preclinical experiments (preferably, in vivo) and, especially, clinical trials are welcome. Only the studies that... see more

Submission closes on: May 30, 2025
Pathological mechanisms of acute diseases and pharmacological intervention

The recognition of and response to potentially life-threatening acute diseases such as acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute myocardial infarction, acute cerebral ischemia, acute nephritic syndrome, infectious diseases and others, is of increasing concern. The majority of therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes have been unsuccessful so far, highlighting the necessity for further research and development of novel effective treatments. This thematic issue focuses on the current advances of studies on the pathological mechanisms of... see more

Submission closes on: May 28, 2025
Integrating In Silico Drug Design and Predictive ADMET Modeling: From Virtual Screening to In Vivo Outcomes

In the dynamic landscape of drug discovery and development, the marriage between computational methods and traditional experimental approaches has revolutionized the field. In silico drug design, bolstered by predictive ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) modeling, has emerged as a cornerstone in the quest for novel therapeutics. The synergy between these disciplines holds immense promise, offering a streamlined pathway from virtual screening to in vivo outcomes. Harnessing the power of computational algorithms, researchers can... see more

Submission closes on: Apr 05, 2025
Cutting-Edge Approaches in Kinase Inhibitors: Design, Synthesis, and Computational Insights

This thematic issue is dedicated to exploring cutting-edge approaches in the design, synthesis, and computational analysis of kinase inhibitors, including classical, allosteric, and covalent modulators. The focus will be on innovative methodologies that drive forward the development of these inhibitors through advanced chemical synthesis techniques, detailed mechanistic studies, and computational modeling. Contributions will highlight how these integrated approaches can optimize inhibitor design, improve selectivity, predict drug interactions, and overcome resistance. The issue aims to provide... see more

Submission closes on: Mar 31, 2025
Machine Learning Approaches for Understanding Cancer Drug Resistance, Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy

Although many patients initially respond positively to chemotherapy or targeted therapy, resistance often develops, leading to treatment failure and disease progression. Cancer drug resistance remains a significant challenge in modern oncology, and understanding the underlying mechanisms of resistance is crucial for developing strategies to overcome this phenomenon. Another rapidly evolving field in cancer treatment research is immunotherapy, which harnesses the power of the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells. However, the success of... see more

Submission closes on: Mar 30, 2025
Non-Coding RNAs and Common Neurosurgical Conditions: A Key to Future Personalized Molecular Therapy

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a class of RNA molecules that are not translated into protein. Among the ncRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) are especially abundant in the nervous system and have been shown to be implicated in its development and in most common neurosurgical disorders. The development of ncRNA research as a potential therapy for common neurosurgical disorders has been of particular interest. RNA-targeting therapy is promising, because targeting... see more

Submission closes on: Mar 15, 2025
Peptide-Drug Conjugates: A New Innovative Path for the Approaching Generation of Biotherapeutics

Medicinal chemists have created a hybrid family of bio-conjugates known as peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs), drawing on recent advancements in peptide science. These PDCs are drug delivery systems in which a medicament is covalently linked to a multi-functional peptide by a cleavable linker. Comparing these conjugates to peptides and small compounds employed independently, they demonstrate greater efficacy. Because of developments in modification chemistry and analytical technology over the past few decades, PDC development has advanced significantly.... see more

Submission closes on: Mar 15, 2025
Drug Design and Discovery driven by Artificial Intelligence

Drug design and discovery driven by artificial intelligence technology is an emerging hot topic in modern drug development in recent years. This emerging field holds tremendous potential to revolutionize the process of drug design and accelerate the discovery of novel therapeutic compounds. By leveraging AI techniques, such as machine learning, deep learning, and data mining, researchers can harness vast amounts of biomedical data and computational power to augment traditional drug discovery approaches. This thematic issue... see more

Submission closes on: Feb 24, 2025
Cutting-Edge Developments in Medicinal Chemistry: Innovative Research and Emerging Therapeutics Bridging Basic Science and Clinical Applications

The synergy between basic scientific research and clinical applications has become increasingly evident in medicinal chemistry in recent years. This dynamic interplay is driving unprecedented advancements, transforming our understanding of disease mechanisms and accelerating the development of innovative therapies. Foundational discoveries in molecular biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and related fields provide the essential building blocks for understanding disease mechanisms at a molecular level, paving the way for the identification of new drug targets and the design... see more

Submission closes on: Jan 31, 2025
Novel heterocycles and their biological activity

Discovery and development of novel compounds in medicinal chemistry are most often involved with heterocycles. Novel methods for drug design such as molecular modelling, and methods for synthesizing new heterocycles such as multicomponent reactions gather new potential for discoveries in this field. Moreover, the chemistry of cosmetics as a source of new biologically active compounds is developing very fast. And – last but not least – analytical methods as well as safety assessment of biologically... see more

Submission closes on: Jan 31, 2025
NEW FRONTIERS IN CANCER TREATMENT.

Although great progress has been made in tumor treatment, unfortunately, many cancer patients show resistance to current antitumor therapies and, in fact, the disease caused 10 million deaths in 2020. This means that in addition to the current antitumor therapies used in clinical practice, the search for new anticancer therapeutic strategies is urgently needed. Tumor cell proliferation, invasion/metastasis, and angiogenesis are crucial mechanisms in tumor progression that must be understood in-depth to explore and develop... see more

Submission closes on: Jan 14, 2025
Targeting the Kinome: Exploring Inhibitors and Degraders for Therapeutic Intervention

The burgeoning field of kinase-targeted therapies has witnessed significant advancements in recent years, propelled by the discovery and development of inhibitors and degraders that selectively modulate kinase activity. This thematic issue seeks to delve into the diverse landscape of strategies employed in targeting the kinome, spanning from traditional kinase inhibitors to emerging approaches centered on protein degradation. Contributions encompassing original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and commentaries are encouraged to provide a comprehensive overview of the... see more

Submission closes on: Dec 31, 2024
Approaches to the Treatment of Chronic Inflammation

Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of numerous diseases, significantly impacting global health. Although chronic inflammation is a hot topic, not much has been written about approaches to its treatment. This thematic issue aims to showcase the latest advancements in chronic inflammation treatment and foster discussion on future directions in this critical field. We encourage submissions exploring a wide range of topics, such as disease prevention through inflammation reduction, including the gut microbiome, and lifestyle interventions.... see more

Submission closes on: Dec 31, 2024
Advances in Medicinal Chemistry: From Cancer to Chronic Diseases.

The broad spectrum of the issue will provide a comprehensive overview of emerging trends, novel therapeutic interventions, and translational insights that impact modern medicine. The primary focus will be diseases of global concern, including cancer, chronic pain, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions, providing a broad overview of the advancements in medicinal chemistry. see more

Submission closes on: Dec 30, 2024
Novel Combination Therapy and Personalized Therapeutic Strategies in Cancer: From Comprehensive Treatment to Precision Treatment

In recent years, with traditional cancer treatments, for most malignant tumors, it is difficult to achieve the best therapeutic effect by any single means. To maximize the benefit of patients, tumor treatment has entered the era of comprehensive and individualized treatment. Comprehensive treatment of cancer is not a simple combination of surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiotherapy, immunity, and other means, but a multidisciplinary collaborative diagnosis and treatment model according to evidence-based medical evidence. Individualized treatment... see more

Submission closes on: Dec 25, 2024
Organ injury, Protection and Interactions: Novel Targets, Drugs and Mechanisms.

Over 300 million surgical procedures are performed worldwide annually, with numbers steadily increasing. Current data indicate that postoperative deaths constitute 7.7% of global mortality, making it the third leading cause of death worldwide. Perioperative organ protection and management are crucial for reducing postoperative complications and organ injury. Anesthetists, surgeons, and researchers work collaboratively to mitigate the incidence of perioperative organ injury. Recently, a growing body of basic research has focused on perioperative organ protection and... see more

Submission closes on: Dec 18, 2024
The Roles of Metalloenzymes in Caner Progression and Theranostics

Metalloproteinases are proteases with metal ions in their active centers and they interact with metal ions via their metal-binding domains containing amino acid residues arginine, lysine, aspartate, glutamate, and histidine. Currently, more than 50 families of metalloproteinases have been found and they are involved in a wide variety of physiological and pathological processes via facilitating matrix degradation, regulating blood pH, and mediating gene transcription. In particular, numerous metalloproteinases are able to directly or indirectly regulate... see more

Submission closes on: Nov 27, 2024
Current Advances and Future Perspectives of Small Molecule Targeted Therapy in Cancer Treatment

Nowadays, small molecule targeted therapy has emerged as a promising avenue for the treatment of cancer, offering the potential for enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity compared to traditional chemotherapy. Targeted small-molecule drugs specifically act on key molecules involved in cancer progression to interfere with specific signaling pathways that drive tumor growth and survival, thereby offering a more precise and personalized approach to cancer treatment. Currently, a range of small molecules have been approved for targeted... see more

Submission closes on: Nov 19, 2024
Innate Immunity Disorders in Non-Infectious Inflammatory Diseases

Inflammation accompanies all human diseases. Undoubtedly, the inflammatory response is vital for eliminating foreign microorganisms from body tissues and fluids. Also, the immune system is able to recognize and remove not only the infection, but also its own molecules and cells, which for any reason may threaten the health of the body. These include destroyed cells, cancer cells, apoptotic bodies, as well as modified molecules, such as modified low-density lipoproteins, amyloids, lipofuscin and many others.... see more

Submission closes on: Nov 10, 2024
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Infectious Inflammatory Diseases: Focus on Clinical Implications

The Special Issue covers the results of the studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms of non-infectious inflammatory diseases, in particular, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and other age-related disorders such as type II diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. Review and research articles as well as methodology papers that summarize and investigate the pathogenesis and clinical implications of various physiological processes, pathology and disease associated with chronic inflammation are welcome. Chronic inflammation is a key... see more

Submission closes on: Oct 31, 2024
Chalcogen-modified nucleic acid analogues

Chalcogen-modified nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides have been of great interest to scientific research for many years. The replacement of oxygen in the nucleobase, sugar or phosphate backbone by chalcogen atoms (sulfur, selenium, tellurium) gives these biomolecules unique properties resulting from their altered physical and chemical properties. The continuing interest in such modified nucleic acid analogues reflects the ongoing exploration of their numerous applications in various scientific disciplines, from fundamental studies on the structure and function... see more

Submission closes on: Oct 23, 2024
Revolutionizing Antimicrobial Drug Discovery: Harnessing AI for Compound Screening.

In the relentless pursuit of combating antimicrobial resistance, a groundbreaking AI-based screening system emerges as a pivotal tool in revolutionizing drug discovery. Traditional methods, plagued by their sluggish pace and exorbitant costs, stand overshadowed by this innovative approach to expedite the identification of potent antimicrobial compounds. This proposal, with the power of machine learning and computational methodologies, carefully analyzes extensive datasets of chemical structures and biological activities. By skillfully utilizing advanced algorithms like support vector... see more

Submission closes on: Oct 15, 2024
Sports Medicine & Medicinal Chemistry (SMMC)

Sports medicine is an interdisciplinary subject that combines sports with rehabilitation medicine, preventive medicine, laboratory medicine, etc., and it is an interdisciplinary subject integrating basic and clinical disciplines. Research on medical chemistry issues related to sports medicine, including energy distribution and material metabolism in the process of sports training and sports promoting health, is of great significance to reveal the internal mechanism of sports medicine and improve the effect of sports medicine. Sports medicine is... see more