This month, we present a joint Focus on Kinases in cancer, in collaboration with Nature Reviews Cancer. Research in this field has been catalysed by the remarkable success of the kinase inhibitor imatinib — which has validated the concept of molecularly targeted therapy for cancer — but there have already been reports of resistance to this drug. Daub and colleagues review the structural and mechanistic determinants of this resistance, and explain how we can use this knowledge to design better, more robust, therapies. Another promising molecular anticancer target is transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). Yingling and colleagues overview success so far using macromolecular antagonists of TGF-β signalling and discuss the potential of small-molecule TGF-β receptor kinase inhibitors now in development. Continuing the kinase theme, this month's 'Analysts Couch' focuses on the market for protein-kinase-targeting therapies, and 'Fresh from the Pipeline' profiles the anticancer drug bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that inhibits signalling through the VEGF receptor tyrosine kinases. The pipeline for anticancer drugs is healthy compared with that for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) — no new medication has been approved for SLE for 30 years. Merrill and colleagues propose that it is time to tackle this dearth and discuss the challenges ahead. Another challenge for the industry is targeting protein–protein interactions as a therapeutic strategy. Dev discusses the druggability of PDZ domains, which are involved in many such interactions. Finally, Davis and Brewster take a look at cyclodextrins and their potential pharmaceutical uses — for example, in improving the bioavailability of drugs — and Glass provides a 'Perspective' on challenges to pharmaceutical patents from generics companies.