Drug target is a key in drug discovery. Although cells have over 30000 proteins, for particular cellular function only few of the proteins are critical. The biological role of the critical proteins could be described as “head goose effect”, and these molecules could be called “head goose molecules (HGMs)”. We assume that under the support from intra- or extra-cellular circumstances the HGMs could be regulated by drugs, then release instructive signals (for instance, protein modification) to other proteins. Through proper cooperation of the HGMs with other protein molecules the disease cell could be reprogrammed, yielding safe and therapeutic effects. Therefore, HGMs might be the best drug targets. Here, we show good HGM examples in energy metabolism, and drugs that target the metabolic HGMs are quite successful in clinic. We hope the thought interest for those working on drug target discovery.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) hospital preparations, as clinical formulas that address unmet clinical needs not met by marketed drugs, hold significant research and development value and potential. This article aims to explore how to leverage the unique advantages of hospital preparations to accelerate their transformation into new TCM drugs. The article provides a thorough analysis of the current management requirements and characteristics of hospital preparations and, based on this analysis, identifies directions for improvement in new drug research and development transformation. In conjunction with the active support of national policies, this article proposes a set of strategies that fully utilize the human experience of hospital preparations to shorten the research and development process and investment, with the goal of promoting the rapid transformation of TCM hospital preparations into new drugs for market launch and further advancing the inheritance and development of TCM.