Strategy and Technical Support System for Developing New TCM Drugs

Along with frequently changed human disease spectrums, multicomponent drugs have attracted increasing attention of the mainstream international medical community. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been deemed one of the best choices for treating complex chronic diseases. In this context, people believe that TCM formula and Chinese patented medicine with proven effects are valuable assets for bringing out new drugs and that modernized composite medicine (MCM) can be developed enjoying TCM-specific merits, with rational compatibility, identical pharmaceutical ingredients, clearly defined mechanism, safety assurance, efficacy, and quality control. Such a MCM will become popular in the mainstream international medical market, allowing inventors being at an advantageous position in the international competition for innovative drugs. This paper proposes a technical roadmap for developing composite medicines, with a range of useful suggestions and solutions. It also presents a perspective for developing new composite medicines.