Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry

Journal Impact Factor: 3.3
Scopus Cite Score: 6.4

Indexed in: Scopus, SCI Expanded, MEDLINE/PubMed

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Aims and Scope:
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry is a forum for the review of areas of keen and topical interest to medicinal chemists and others in the allied disciplines. Each issue is solely devoted to timely in-depth mini-reviews/ research and guest-edited reviews/ research which provide the reader a comprehensive survey of that area. A Guest Editor who is an expert in the topic under review will assemble each issue. The scope of Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry will cover all areas of medicinal chemistry, including current developments in rational drug design, synthetic chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, high-throughput screening, combinatorial chemistry, compound diversity measurements, drug absorption, drug distribution, metabolism, new and emerging drug targets, natural products, pharmacogenomics, and structure-activity relationships. Medicinal chemistry is a rapidly maturing discipline. The study of how structure and function are related is absolutely essential to understanding the molecular basis of life. Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry aims to contribute to the growth of scientific knowledge and insight and facilitate the discovery and development of new therapeutic agents to treat debilitating human disorders. The journal is essential for every medicinal chemist who wishes to be kept informed and up-to-date with the latest and most important advances.
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Editor-in-Chief:

  • Jia Zhou Chemical Biology Program
    Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
    University of Texas
    Galveston, TX
    United States of America

ISSN: 1568-0266 (Print)

eISSN: 1873-4294 (Online)

Special Issues With Active Call for Papers

Submission closes on: Sep 14, 2026
MicroRNAs: Unlocking New Horizons in Solid Tumor Therapy with Tiny Keys

Over the past five years, miRNA-based treatments have gained traction as diagnostic and therapeutic modalities in solid tumors. Dysregulated miRNAs, including miR-21, miR-155, and members of the let-7 family, have been demonstrated to promote tumor development, angiogenesis, and immune evasion, thereby establishing them as key therapeutic targets. Recent advancements encompass miRNA mimics (e.g., miR-34a) and inhibitors (antagomiRs) administered by lipid nanoparticles, viral vectors, or exosome-based carriers, aimed at addressing stability and delivery challenges within the... see more

Submission closes on: Sep 04, 2026
Next-Generation RNA Therapeutics: Mechanisms, Materials and Translation

RNA-based medicines are advancing from concept to clinical reality, reshaping vaccines, oncology, rare disease treatment, and regenerative medicine. This thematic issue will gather authoritative reviews covering the full spectrum of RNA therapeutic research—from molecular design and chemical modification of mRNA, saRNA, circRNA, and gene-editing components, to delivery systems including lipid, polymeric, peptide/protein, extracellular vesicle, and conjugate-based platforms. We also welcome perspectives on RNA pharmacology, immune modulation, and therapeutic mechanisms, as well as computational and bioinformatics... see more

Submission closes on: Aug 30, 2026
Artificial intelligence and In Silico Strategies for Novel Target Identification in Alzheimer's Disease

The title "Artificial Intelligence and In Silico Strategies for Novel Target Identification in Alzheimer's Disease" emphasizes the use of Artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced in silico methods to address Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative condition that currently has few effective treatments. AI and insilico methods, including molecular modeling, simulations, are transforming how we discover new therapeutic targets for AD. These technologies allow researchers to examine complicated biological data, like protein interactions, genetic markers, and disease... see more

Submission closes on: Aug 24, 2026
Medicinal Chemistry Research for Anticancer Agents

The use of several compounds has been the subject of increasing interest in phytochemistry, biochemistry and other fields of research at the chemistry-biology-ecosystems interface. In spite of the continued search for new anticancer drugs, cancer remains a leading cause of death. Cancer mortalities are expected to increase to 12.9 million, while cancer incidence itself should rise to 20 million by the year 2030. Chemotherapeutic strategies are needed that provide selective tumor toxicity. However, the most... see more

Submission closes on: Jul 18, 2026
Enzyme-Targeted Drug Discovery: Emerging Targets, Strategic Approaches, and Evaluation Frameworks

Enzyme-targeted drug discovery represents one of the most relevant strategies in pharmaceutical development, owing to the high specificity, selectivity, and central role of enzymes in the regulation of biological processes. This proposed issue aims to compile key information on the current landscape of enzyme-targeted drug discovery, with emphasis on the identification of relevant therapeutic targets, innovative approaches for enzyme modulation (such as covalent inhibitors, allosteric modulators, and fragment-based strategies), and modern methodologies for assessing the... see more

Submission closes on: Jun 25, 2026
From Code to Cure: The Evolving Landscape of Computer-Aided Drug Discovery and AI-Driven Design

Advancements in computational science and high-performance computing have made computer-aided drug design (CADD) a fundamental approach in modern drug discovery. CADD enables precise molecular-level analysis of target binding sites and interaction mechanisms, expediting the identification and refinement of drug candidates. It comprises structure-based drug design (SBDD), enhanced by crystallography and homology modeling, and ligand-based drug design (LBDD), which utilizes bioactivity data through techniques like QSAR modeling, pharmacophore mapping, and scaffold hopping. Further, advanced tools such... see more

Submission closes on: Mar 23, 2026
Big Data in Biomedicine: Integrating Bioinformatics and Clinical Databases

The rapid advancement of big data technologies is transforming biomedicine by integrating bioinformatics and clinical databases to drive precision medicine and innovative healthcare solutions. This thematic issue explores the intersection of computational biology, machine learning, and biomedical informatics, highlighting how large-scale data analysis enhances disease diagnosis, biomarker discovery, and personalized treatment strategies. Key topics include multi-omics data integration, AI-driven predictive modeling, electronic health record mining, and ethical considerations in data sharing. By bridging the gap... see more

Submission closes on: Jan 24, 2026
Recent Advances In The Biological Nanomaterials-Based Treatment Of Neurological Disorders

The thematic issue "Recent Advances in the Biological Nanomaterials-Based Treatment of Neurological Disorders" addresses innovative uses of plant and microorganism-derived biological nanomaterials to treat neurological diseases like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, stroke, and glioblastoma, which are becoming increasingly important medically and scientifically. Nanomaterials from plants, microorganisms, peptides, proteins, polysaccharides, and exosomes are developed, characterized, and tested for therapeutic use. These materials' biocompatibility, bioactivity, and targeted delivery make them potential options for treating complicated neurological illnesses like Alzheimer's,... see more

Submission closes on: Jan 14, 2026
Next-Generation Drug Targets in Antimicrobial Research: Strategies for Overcoming Resistance

This thematic issue focuses on the urgent need to develop innovative strategies and identify novel drug targets to fight against antimicrobial resistance. As resistant strains of bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens continue to emerge, the global healthcare community faces a critical challenge: the diminishing effectiveness of existing antimicrobial therapies. As traditional antimicrobials lose efficacy, there is an urgent need to identify and exploit novel molecular targets within microbial cells and host-pathogen interactions. To address this,... see more