**7. Conclusions**

*Drug Design - Novel Advances in the Omics Field and Applications*

ments in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients [179].

tics, and these are summarized in **Table 4**.

ray chips to include newly discovered genetic targets.

Advantages Expression of thousands of genes simultaneously; Low sample consumption; Easy sample preparation and control of experimental conditions;

Data variability

Gene discovery; Vaccine development

normalization and analysis; Limited dynamic range; Low sensitivity; Competitive hybridization

Disadvantages Competence required for data

Applications Biomarker identification;

*Benchmarks for NGS and microarrays in drug discovery.*

**discovery**

**6. Features of microarrays and NGS and their relevance in drug** 

In general, there are a variety of features for each of microarrays and NGS that render these platforms highly valuable in the arena of drug discovery and therapeu-

Microarrays offer various advantages including expression analysis of cells or tissues at different states of disease, pharmacogenomics, toxicogenomics, and as well as for analysis and identification of SNPs. The microarray technology is useful for obtaining a good amount of information from small volume samples, and it is quite valuable for use in incorporating low-cost high-throughput assays in the drug discovery process. However, this technology has a number of disadvantages. These include high costs and long timelines, particularly related to re-design of microar-

In comparison to microarrays, NGS offers more flexibility and higher costefficacy. In particular, this technology allows for identification of targets, screening of large numbers of compounds for use in therapeutics or treatments, as well as for

> High sensitivity; Quantitative; High dynamic range; No hybridization

required; High cost

Vaccine discovery

Complex sample preparation; Complex technology infrastructure

Target identification; Compound screening; Biomarker identification; Drug resistance;

identifying of unique biomarkers useful for discovery of new drug targets.

**Microarrays NGS**

Although NGS has been used primarily for genome identification of SARS-CoV-2 [249–252], as well as for evaluation of mutations developed during viral spread in different countries [253–255], there are some studies wherein RNA sequencing is used for identifying new drug treatments. One such study has used NGS for evaluation of affected genes during SARS-CoV-2 infections. In this study, different genes involved in RNA regulation, histone remodeling, cellular signaling, and chromatin remodeling are identified. Some of these identified genes have demonstrated either pro- or antiviral activities; thus, these genes could serve as potential tools for different therapies or vaccines [256]. In another study, a shotgun metatranscriptomics RNA sequencing technique is used for a cohort of New York SARS-CoV-2 infected patients, and have identified host-responses to SARS-CoV-2 infections in different pathways such as interferon, ACE, olfactory, and hematological pathways [179]. Moreover, they have also analyzed risks associated with angiotensin blockers and ACE inhibitor treat-

**72**

**Table 4.**

Overall, although the word "limitation" still floats around, and with only 5% of novel molecular compounds are ultimately selected to enter the drug and therapeutic marketplace, new innovations in science and technology are critical in the arena of drug discovery and therapeutics. It is these ongoing research advances and technological innovations that will empower scientists to continue on in the pursuit of additional and more sophisticated, reliable, and efficient molecular tools, such as NGS and microarrays, that will be useful in the arena of drug discovery and therapeutics. These efforts, innovations, and technologies will undoubtedly continue to revolutionize the drug discovery industry that will aid in identifying better and more effective drugs, at much lower costs, and within shorter periods of time.
