NAD+: A key metabolic regulator with great therapeutic potential

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a ubiquitous metabolite that serves an essential role in the catabolism of nutrients. Recently, there has been a surge of interest in NAD+ biology, with the recognition that NAD+ influences many biological processes beyond metabolism, including transcription, signalling and cell survival. There are a multitude of pathways involved in the synthesis and breakdown of NAD+, and alterations in NAD+ homeostasis have emerged as a common feature of a range of disease states. Here, we provide an overview of NAD+ metabolism and summarise progress on the development of NAD+‐related therapeutics.