The document summarizes the typical 5-step drug discovery process:
1) Discovery and screening of 10,000-20,000 candidate drugs through high-throughput screening and target validation.
2) Lead optimization through combinatorial chemistry and structure-based drug design.
3) Evaluation of absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET).
4) Clinical trials in humans.
5) New drug application for regulatory approval and marketing of successful drug candidates.