Singlestargeted

Singlestargeted refers to strategies, agents, or therapies designed to interact primarily with a single biological target. In pharmacology and biomedical research, singlestargeted approaches emphasize specificity, aiming to minimize off-target interactions that can cause adverse effects. This contrasts with multi-targeted or polypharmacological strategies, which deliberately engage multiple targets to achieve broader therapeutic effects or overcome redundancy in biological pathways.

Applications include small-molecule drugs engineered for high selectivity toward a single receptor or enzyme, as well as monoclonal antibodies and other biologics developed to bind a single antigen or epitope. In design, researchers prioritize high affinity to the intended target, favorable pharmacokinetics, and comprehensive off-target screening. Limitations include the potential for target mutation or drug resistance and a narrower therapeutic scope.

Examples include beta-1 selective beta-blockers and monoclonal antibodies such as trastuzumab that target a single tumor-associated antigen. It is important to recognize that many approved therapies have complex selectivity profiles and may interact with additional targets under certain conditions.

In the context of precision medicine, singlestargeted approaches are often evaluated alongside strategies that address pathway redundancy and heterogeneity. The choice between singlestargeted and multi-targeted designs depends on disease biology, safety considerations, and patient-specific factors. See also targeted therapy, polypharmacology, and precision medicine.